ASSOCIATE PROGRAMME
Good people doing good things deserve good people around them.
TASC Lab brings together independent practitioners, freelancers, microenterprises and changemakers who want to develop their own work while being part of something bigger.
Our Associate Programme is built around collaboration, shared learning and mutual support. Associates remain independent, but become part of a trusted community where ideas, experience and opportunities can be shared.
Doing good work can be hard on your own.
Working independently gives you freedom, but it can also mean having to figure everything out yourself.
You might be building a business, developing a project, freelancing, working with communities or simply trying to turn an idea into something real.
And sometimes you need more than another networking event or a desk next to someone you don't know.
YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR...
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People you can bounce ideas around with.
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Different skills and perspectives around you.
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Genuine relationships rather than transactional networking.
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Opportunities to collaborate on projects.
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Support when something isn't quite working.
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A community that understands why your work matters.
That's what the TASC Lab Associate Programme is designed to create.
A community of practice for people making things happen.
Our Associate Programme brings together independent practitioners, microenterprises and those on TASC's Changemaker Pathway as a living community of practice.
Associates remain independent, but become part of a trusted network where people share knowledge, test ideas, collaborate and learn from one another.
Whether you're developing an idea, growing your work or looking to connect with others making a difference, the programme offers a supportive environment built around shared values, creativity and social good — creating opportunities for individual practice to contribute to collective impact.
What does being a TASC Lab Associate mean?
Being a TASC Lab Associate means becoming part of a trusted community of independent people and organisations who share ideas, support one another and create opportunities to collaborate.
All Associates have access to the same wider benefits of the programme, including peer support, shared learning, collaboration opportunities and connections into Creative Rebel and TASC.
Because Associates engage with the Lab in different ways, the programme has a small number of membership levels. These reflect the minimum commitment you make to being part of the community and the amount of access you have to the shared workspace.
Each level includes a proportionate monthly membership fee, helping to contribute towards the operational costs of running TASC Lab while keeping the programme as accessible as possible.
A COMMUNITY AROUND YOUR WORK
Connect with people with different skills, experiences and perspectives who understand what it means to build something of your own.
PEER SUPPORT
Share challenges, test ideas, ask questions and learn from the experience of other Associates.
OPPORTUNITIES TO COLLABORATE
Develop ideas together, contribute to projects and respond to opportunities as part of a wider network.
ACCESS TO CREATIVE REBEL & TASC
Where there is a good fit, Associates may have opportunities to contribute to Creative Rebel CIC projects, TASC programmes, training, events and commissioned work.
SPACE TO DEVELOP
Use the community to experiment, learn, build confidence and develop your practice, business or ideas.
A PLACE TO WORK
Your Associate level determines the minimum amount of time you commit to spending at TASC Lab and the level of access you have to the shared workspace.
The purpose is not simply to provide desk space. Regular presence helps relationships develop, creates opportunities for informal peer support and makes it easier for Associates to become an active part of the community.
Different levels of access. One shared community.
Associate levels
TASC Lab is built around different ways of participating in the same ecosystem, rather than a hierarchy of membership.
Each Associate route has a different purpose and level of commitment, but all are part of the same community and have access to the same wider opportunities for support, collaboration and development.
Associate places are offered on a six-month commitment, giving people enough time to build relationships, contribute meaningfully and develop their own practice within the Lab.
Whichever route you join, the principle is the same: the Lab should help your own work grow while giving you the opportunity to build things with other people that none of us could necessarily build alone.
CORE ASSOCIATE
For people ready to drive work, develop opportunities and help shape the Lab.
Core Associates are usually present 1–2 days each week and take an active role in developing the shared portfolio.
During each six-month cycle, they are expected to develop and lead two meaningful projects — taking an idea into something tangible that creates genuine value, involves others and contributes to the wider ecosystem.
Core Associates also play an important role in supporting other Associates and TASC learners and helping maintain the collaborative culture of the Lab.
£40 monthly associate contribution.
ASSOCIATE
For independent practitioners who want to contribute their skills to shared work while continuing to grow their own practice.
Associates are usually present 1–2 days per fortnight.
They contribute to projects and opportunities as they emerge, collaborate with others across the Lab and support TASC learners where appropriate.
Their own freelance work, business or practice remains an important part of their time in the Lab. The aim is for their individual work and the shared portfolio to strengthen one another.
£25 monthly associate contribution.
EMERGING ASSOCIATE
For people developing their practice through a more structured, team-based experience of the Lab.
Emerging Associates are usually present 1–2 days each week and work as part of a peer team within the wider TASC Lab community.
Drawing on the Team Academy approach, they learn with and from one another while contributing to real projects, developing the shared portfolio and supporting TASC learners.
They receive more structured development, coaching, feedback and challenge, with the expectation that they take increasing responsibility as their practice develops.
Emerging is intentionally kept affordable so that cost is not a barrier to people who would benefit most from a more developmental route into the ecosystem.
£20 monthly associate contribution.
CHANGEMAKER
IN RESIDENCE
Alongside the Associate routes, TASC Lab hosts a 12-month Changemaker in Residence programme for people developing a specific area of practice, theme or social-change opportunity.
The residency offers space to develop ideas, build partnerships and create new work with TASC, while contributing to the wider Lab ecosystem and shared portfolio.
Shared Work, Shared Opportunity.
TASC Lab is designed to support your own practice while creating opportunities to build things together.
As a general principle, at least half of your time in the Lab should contribute to shared activity. That might mean developing or delivering projects, collaborating with other Associates, supporting TASC learners, sharing your skills or helping grow the shared portfolio.
The rest of your time is yours to develop your own business, freelance work, projects or practice, with the benefit of having a community around you to offer ideas, challenge and support.
The portfolio we build together is shared. It creates opportunities that Creative Rebel, TASC and Associates can all draw on, from new commissions and collaborations to paid work, experience and future projects.
The aim is simple: your own work should grow because you're part of the Lab, while your contribution helps create opportunities for everyone around you.
FAQs
What is a TASC Lab Associate?
A TASC Lab Associate is an independent practitioner, freelancer, microenterprise or changemaker who becomes part of the wider TASC Lab community.
You remain independent, but gain access to a supportive network, shared learning, development opportunities, collaboration and the shared portfolio.
Is this coworking?
No. TASC Lab includes a shared workspace, but the Associate Programme is not a conventional coworking membership.
The space is there to support the wider relationship, your own practice and the shared work that happens through the Lab.
How long do I commit for?
Associate places are offered on a minimum six-month commitment.
This gives enough time to build relationships, contribute meaningfully and get real value from being part of the Lab.
What does the monthly fee cover?
Your monthly Associate contribution helps towards the operational costs of running TASC Lab.
The fee varies by Associate level, reflecting the amount of access to the space and the nature of the commitment.
Do all Associate levels get the same support?
Yes. All Associates are part of the same wider community and can access peer support, shared learning, coaching, development opportunities, collaboration, community events and opportunities that emerge through the Lab.
The different levels mainly reflect your role, commitment and how regularly you are present in the space.
How much time do I need to spend at TASC Lab?
That depends on your Associate route.
Core and Emerging Associates are usually present 1 to 2 days each week, while Associates are usually present 1 to 2 days per fortnight.
Can I still work on my own business or freelance work?
Absolutely. Supporting your own practice is a core part of the model.
As a general principle, up to half of your time in the Lab can be spent on your own work, with at least half contributing to shared projects, collaboration, TASC learners or the shared portfolio.
What counts as shared activity?
Shared activity can include developing or delivering projects, collaborating with other Associates, supporting TASC learners, sharing your skills, helping another Associate develop their practice or contributing to the shared portfolio.
It is not about filling a timesheet. It is about actively contributing to the ecosystem you are part of.
Does being an Associate guarantee paid work?
No. Associate status does not guarantee paid work or commissions.
However, the Lab is designed to create the relationships, shared capacity and portfolio from which new opportunities can develop. Where suitable paid opportunities arise, Associates may be invited to contribute.
Who owns the work I do through the Lab?
Your own independent work remains yours.
Where something is developed collaboratively through the Lab, ownership, income and responsibilities will be agreed between the people involved. The aim is to build a shared portfolio that Creative Rebel, TASC and Associates can all benefit from.
Are Associates employed by Creative Rebel or TASC?
No. Associates remain independent and are responsible for their own tax, insurance, clients and professional responsibilities.
Any commissioned work for Creative Rebel, TASC or a partner project will be agreed separately.
Do I get a dedicated desk?
No. TASC Lab is a shared working environment and Associates use available desks rather than having permanently allocated workstations.
Can I meet clients at TASC Lab?
Yes. Associates are welcome to meet clients at TASC Lab and there is space available to do this most of the time. We just ask that you check availability in advance, particularly if you need a private space or are planning a longer meeting.
What happens after my six-month commitment?
At the end of the six months, we can review the relationship together.
You may continue as an active Associate, move into a different Associate route or become part of the Associate Alumni network, staying connected to the community and future opportunities.
How do I become an Associate?
Start by expressing your interest and telling us a little about who you are, what you are working on and why you would like to become part of TASC Lab.
We will then invite you for an informal conversation to explore whether the Associate Programme feels like a good fit for both sides.
Does TASC Lab have parking?
TASC Lab does not have on-site parking. However, a convenient park-and-ride service is available from Monday to Friday at Waitrose, Searby Road, Lincoln LN2 4DS, providing easy access to the city centre. Parking at this location is free from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and the bus fare is £3 per passenger.