Hi, It's Ebony. I’ve been the Community Manager here at the Mill for almost two months now, and what a ride it’s been! On my very first day, I crossed paths with Alex, who, like me, was new to the Mill. Our morning hellos quickly turned into chats about cycling, climbing, and life in general. Before long, I got to know the brilliant team he works with. They’re now my go-to for a quick chat over the making of our morning coffee’s (or in Alex’s case, a crumpet) and a bit of banter to kick off the day.
When I started thinking about who to spotlight for our first social feature, they immediately came to mind. Lucky for me, they were totally up for it!
So, grab a coffee and read on to learn about the wonderful crew at Nulla Carbo—what they do, what brought them to Castleton Mill, and how they’re making their mark.
What’s the story behind Nulla Carbo? If you had to explain it to a friend who knew nothing about this line of work, what would you say?
Nathan: Nulla Carbo are building performance specialists, passionate about having a positive impact on the built environment. We use our expertise of building performance to actively inform the balance between internal environment, energy performance, capital and life cycle costs.
Chris: Essentially, we create 3D models of buildings using specialist software and simulate various scenarios, such as future weather conditions, different heating systems, lighting setups etc. This allows us to compare the total energy use and carbon emissions which influence a building's final design.
What about your work do you really love?
Alex: The rest of the team.
George: Making a tangible difference in the world.
Nathan & Jimmy: Solving problems.
Chris: Seeing a finished building knowing I've had a hand in helping the design be more sustainable and comfortable.
When did you join the Mill crew, and what made you choose this space?
George: We were fully remote at the start of 2024. As a collaborative engineering team it made more sense to be in a space together, a place to bounce off each other. I looked around for spaces out of town, not in the rat race, and CM was the first friendly place that felt like a future home. Plus it's right on the canal!
Walk us through a day in your life here at the Mill. Any routines or snacks that are a must?
Jimmy: I walk down the canal from the station every morning, I arrive to see Alex with a crumpet and immediately get one myself. The crisps are good. I like to keep my teaspoon with me on my desk so I only have to wash it up once. Oh and the coffee machine is a blessing.
How does co-working here compare to working from home or a traditional office? Any surprising perks?
George: The social element is very nice, the joining of different offices at lunchtime, sharing stories with people from completely different trains of life. I don't feel alone in the office even when no one else is around from Nulla. Also the community manager is a good egg!
How do you get to the Mill—bike, walk, car? And what’s your favourite thing about its location?
Alex: Cycle rain or shine. I love how close it is to the canal, surrounded by walkers, lunch runners and dogs!
George: Drive rain, Cycle shine.
Jimmy: Train.
What’s your go-to productivity hack for keeping inspiration up through the day?
Nathan: Regular 5 minute breaks, a good plan to tick through (and coffee!)
If you could wave a magic wand and add something new to the Mill, what would it be?
George: Pool table.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about co-working for the first time?
George: Shop around, everywhere has a different vibe and it can change, find somewhere that works for you
Alex: Once you arrive try to chat to the people around you, get yourself out there - you meet some cool people.
Nathan: Make sure they have good coffee.
How do you unwind after a busy day of work?
Alex: The cycle home always clears my head, even if the hill home is murder.
George: Go up the road to the local climbing gym.
Jimmy: Reading my book on the train home.
That’s all from the lovely team at Nulla Carbo—it’s easy to see how they’re such a ray of sunshine in our co-working space. If you’d like to join the Mill gang and add your own spark to the community, you can find all the details right here.
