Renting coworking space has become a popular place where staff and entrepreneurs of different industries and backgrounds can save money by sharing office space. It’s a very convenient way of working as these places offer all the facilities and equipment you need to work efficiently. There are various options to choose from to suit different needs for everyone as well! For example, there are coworking desks if you’re working solo and need enough space for you to get to work. Alternatively, if you’re a business owner with several employees, private offices or meeting rooms are available to rent.

People who work from home find their local London coworking office space to be a great way to boost productivity. It can be very unmotivating for some people to be repeatedly stuck surrounded by the same environment day after day, so having somewhere to get out and have a change of scenery can be spirit-lifting! It also helps to be around other like-minded people who might be helpful and encouraging to you. Let’s take a look at other examples of what’s great about renting a coworking space.

It’s Very Affordable

Renting coworking space is a fantastic way for businesses to save money. Instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on renting buildings or other bigger spaces that you may not necessarily utilise well, you can pay for just the space and time you use. Here at BluDesks, we offer two memberships to choose from to suit different needs.

Our Personal Membership is perfect for freelancers and start-ups who work from home and crave the vibes of an office. The flexibility of this pay-as-you-go pass means there are no ongoing commitments or contracts, and you can pay from as little as £2 an hour. The coworking space will be fully equipped with everything you need to help you get your work done.

Our Corporate Membership is designed for businesses with employees and is a great way to boost their morale and productivity because you can let them choose where they work from and when. From coworking desks to private offices and meeting rooms, there are plenty of options to choose from and help you with your team projects or meetings.

Great Place to Network

One of the reasons coworking spaces have become so popular is because it gives you the chance to get to know other people in their shared office space. Having people around you, who are in a similar position and like to work in a similar way to you, can boost your confidence, happiness and even productivity.

Networking with other business owners or freelancers is excellent for building connections that could lead you to bigger things or inspire you in your work. For instance, if you’re a freelance writer trying to write content about buying or selling properties for a company but lack the knowledge, that estate agent working in the space next to you could be of great value to you and your work. Some people also like to help each other out in the form of “accountability partners” to help keep them on track and check that they set goals and actually work towards them. It’s a great way to improve motivation and to be more constructive.

All The Facilities and Equipment You Need

When booking coworking office space in London and other destinations, you will be pleased to know that you get access to everything you would typically find in a professional office environment. Depending on which type of space you need, you will be fully equipped with scanners, photocopiers, printers, wi-fi and many other office essentials.

If you need to book a meeting room, you will have the use of whiteboards, AV facilities, wide-screen TVs and there are also several sockets available for you to use. In some of our coworking spaces, we can even deliver refreshments to you, so you don’t forget to fuel your body whilst you’re working hard.

Brilliant for Start-Ups

When starting a business, it can be so overwhelming when it comes to covering costs. A lease to rent a classic office is usually extensive and costly. Being tied down to a contract like this can cause worry and stress when you can’t be sure of the future revenue and business growth when you’re starting.

Renting coworking space can solve these problems as there are no commitments or time frames to pay. You have complete control over how much you spend and how long you use the space. Whether you need to book by hour to hour or day to day, you have plenty of options to suit your business needs. With thousands of coworking spaces to choose from around the world, you can decide where to work all on one single pass without having to register with different websites.

Freedom from Your Home

Working from home as a freelancer is a great way to work around your family life and give you the flexibility to set your own schedule. However, some people can become unproductive and unreliable when working from home. Being at home means that you only have yourself to answer to and sometimes it can be hard to keep yourself motivated. Working from home can also make some people feel isolated and lonely.

Coworking desks and office spaces allow freelancers to have somewhere that they can have more focus and work more effectively by grounding themselves to a space away from a repetitive environment. It’s also going to improve motivation by being able to socialise with other freelancers who might be able to give you an extra push on particularly rough days.

It’s Simple to Book

Here at BluDesks, we’ve made it so easy and convenient to rent coworking spaces. Our simple membership passes and one-time registration process makes it quick and efficient for you to be able to start searching for a space from thousands of flexible offices and workspaces from all over the world.

If you decide to use our mobile app, this makes the process even quicker. Once you’re all registered and signed up to a membership, all you have to do is simply search and choose the space you need. You can use enhanced search filters to narrow the spaces down to exactly what you’re looking for. This allows you to book in advance and you also have the option to mark your favourite spaces for faster booking. Once you’ve done that, you can even check yourself in when you arrive.

If you’re wondering whether renting a coworking office space in London or elsewhere is right for you, why not have a look around our website. Find out more information about how it works, our memberships we offer and browse through the many potential coworking spaces you could be using.

After seeing how quick, easy and cost effective it is, there’s no doubt that you’re going to want to book a space and get some work done whilst getting to know other business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers!

When it all started during the first lockdown and we were coming to terms with using the home office, hurriedly converting space and signing up for Zoom accounts in our droves, it didn’t really feel like it was going to be a longer term paradigm shifter.

But here we are, in the summer of 21, facing the real fear of actually working back in offices after we’ve become so accustomed to working at home, and on many levels, finding we quite enjoy it.

With freedoms finally granted back this month, it really is making many of us nervous about something that we wouldn’t have given a second thought about only eighteen months ago – stepping into an office.

For others, the home office will reign supreme for the foreseeable, as bosses have across many sectors have abandoned the centralised head office model, preferring their workforce to maintain a flexible working norm.

So is this fear and trepidation of returning to the office real, or will it dissolve away by lunchtime on our first day back?

Alison, a London law firm PA, who has been working at home since the second lockdown, told us that she feels anxious about returning to the office, but grateful that it won’t be a five day a week return, as the boss is moving to more flexible working.

Alison told us, “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling a little nervous about coming back to the office, as I really have found home working much easier as it works around the family and the lack of a commute has been one thing I’ve certainly not missed whilst home working. But that said, I have missed the busy environment and having work colleagues around which I think does help keep up morale”.

Alison is far from being alone in her perceptions, as a report from the British Psychological Society gives guidance and advice on Covid related anxiety and stress in the workplace.

The guidance, issued late last year, stated that on returning to the office ‘Responses will be influenced by a wide range of risk factors including vulnerabilities within the family, change in job roles, threat of redundancy, skill shortages, social networks, and current and previous experience of loss, bereavement, and illness. Feelings are likely to be significantly affected by factors that increase the risks and challenges posed by Covid-19 (e.g. being from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic [BAME] background).’

Some notable larger businesses, including HSBC and Unilever have stated that they are never returning full time to the office. but for many smaller to mid-size businesses, the attitudes and commitments to flexible working models are far less clear.

It’s also not to say that everyone likes and enjoys the home office, ‘Zoom Fatigue’ has proven to be a very real phenomenon and those extended meetings of having our own HD image relentlessly mirroring back at us is not for everyone! Read this interesting article on a study on Zoom Fatigue from Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab (VHIL), giving valuable insights and solutions.

Home working for many has meant the ‘greying’ of lines of when we are ‘on duty’, so now the office doesn’t ever close and we are not booted out by the cleaners at 6.30pm, means on average, we’re putting in far more hours, yet for the same pay rate.

Jason, a Client Account Manager told us, “I really don’t have a structure in the same way I did before working from home. It’s ok and I manage it but I can be still on meetings late into the evening and lunch times have pretty much gone by the wayside most days.”

Recent research by Ezra, a leading provider of digital coaching, found that Working from Home has Increased UK Working Hours by 22%.

So in these times of immense change across the working landscape, there appears to be factors that act as pros and cons for either side of the equation.

Given that many bosses have relented over the last few months and accepted that many of their employees don’t want the rigid work patterns, attendance and commuting of pre 2020, flexible office working has emerged as a potential ‘halfway house’ solution.

Flexible working comes in the form of workspaces that can be hired flexibly, and in some cases, for as little as an hour upwards on a pay-as-you-go basis.

One of the major benefits of these flexible workspaces is that they offer the employee or small business owner a place to work, closer to where they live, so negating the long and mind-numbing daily commute.

Often with much more reliable connectivity than the home office, these workspaces enable communications without the Wi-Fi limitations of many home offices and with far fewer home distractions, think endless Amazon Prime deliveries and neighbour DIY projects!

Although not really getting around Zoom Fatigue issues, the often collaborative spaces do enable more face-to-face contact with real humans which to some degree at least balances out all the screen time with conversations readily available in the breakout areas.

CEO of BluDesks, a leading online workspace booking platform comments, “What we’re finding now, is that although home workers have been reticent to try venturing out of their four walls, they have reported back having an amazing experience at our workspaces, even if they only booked for an hour or two.

So I guess it’s just about plucking up the courage again to get back out there, because there really is a warm welcome for you at our centres if you do make the effort, and many are close to where you live, meaning very little travel time.”

Back to the British Psychological Society report, it states that, ‘Each employee will have their own specific concerns regarding their work or personal experience. Feeling worried, concerned or anxious is understandable in a situation that is changing and uncertain. These are common responses and show increased vigilance which helps protect us from harm.’

It will no doubt take all of us time to adapt to a gradual return to more traditional ways of working, albeit in truth, things are never going to be exactly the same as before.

The most important thing is to seek out a way of future working that suits you and your own personal expectations and needs.

Do your own research and look for all the help that’s out there to support you, the way forward is not clear for any of us, so your unease is definitely fully justified and not something you should ignore.

Mind have some great resources if you are needing support.

Using a coworking space for rent is an innovative and modern way of working. It’s the perfect way for freelance workers, small businesses and budding entrepreneurs to surround themselves with like-minded people and an atmosphere that’s different from what they get with working from home. Thinking about this past year, many people have stared at the same four walls for so long that people now want to get out and about to work for a change of scenery.

However, this does sometimes come with a significant disadvantage. For example, coworking spaces in London can be particularly lively and active. It’s easy to get distracted when many people around are boisterous with conversations heard from everywhere. Being in this environment means that some people struggle with being productive in their work.

If you’re searching for “coworking spaces near me” and are worried about how you can stay productive, you’re going to want to read on. We’ve got 5 tips that will boost your productivity when renting coworking space and help keep you on track while working.

1.Decide Which Coworking Space to Rent

People use coworking spaces for many reasons. Whether you’re looking for additional hot desk capacity, a private office, office space for meetings or space for team projects, then that’s something to consider when choosing your next coworking space. Here at BluDesks, we offer several types of spaces to suit your purpose.

Hot Desks

A simple way to rent out space is by choosing a desk to rent. We understand that businesses need time and money to grow. You can reduce the running costs of your business by as much as 30% when renting a hot desk. When you book a hot desk rental through our website, you only pay for the space you book, and you pay in hourly blocks, which helps you avoid costly contracts.

Private Offices

When searching for coworking spaces in London and worldwide through BluDesks, you have a choice to rent a private office. This will give you access to plenty of office equipment, such as photocopiers, printers and whiteboards, as well as access to free wi-fi and meeting rooms. You pay on an hourly basis, so you only pay for what you use.

Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms are great for businesses who don’t necessarily need to run their empire from physical premises and means you avoid the long-term costs that come with leasing an office. These rooms allow you to hold team meetings and give you the flexibility to decide when you need to rent the room, whilst giving your clients/employees comfort in modern surroundings. You can easily hold staff training days and presentations from our meeting rooms, and they are fully equipped with everything you need, such as whiteboards, free wi-fi and wide-screen TVs.

Customised Workspaces

A great way to improve productivity and performance is by having a customised workspace. This is because people feel like they can handle distractions much easier and feel they have a sense of control over their space. The facilities and equipment provided are like those you would expect from a professional working environment. Like our other coworking spaces for rent, you only pay for the time that you use.

2.Plan and Organise Your Day

If you want to make sure you’re as productive as possible during the time you spend working in your coworking space, you must plan ahead of time. It’s tough to expect yourself to be constructive just by randomly turning up and making a start on business without organising your work and prioritising specific tasks first.

A great way to plan out your work is by either writing everything down on paper in the form of a planner or by using an organisational app/website. Think about what you need to get done and list it with the most important job at the top. Seeing a plan for the day in front of you will ensure you’re not wasting time starting one job and then distracting yourself with another. You will be able to work through each task one at a time. By then crossing tasks off your list as you go, you will feel more driven and motivated to continue doing good, productive work.

3.Tidy Workspace

There’s nothing more unproductive than having an untidy workspace. If you’ve got hoards of paperwork scattered across your desk, you’re going to waste a lot of time trying to find important information you may need to get your work done efficiently. Even not organising a place for your stationery could slow you down while you try to find that highlighter you need. Not to mention the psychological effects an untidy workspace will have on you!

It’s well worth the time to make sure you sort through and file all your paperwork. Maybe even categorise it if you tend to have a lot on your plate continuously. You will find it much easier to find what you need, therefore saving time and ensuring you’re more productive. A clean and tidy workspace is much more welcoming for you and will increase your mood and motivation each day.

4.Utilise Technology

There are many apps and websites available these days that are extremely helpful in improving productivity, no matter what type of work you do. If your job consists of plenty of emails to send, invoices to produce and other admin tasks, technology can help. All of those tasks we mentioned can be automated using various apps/websites, saving you a lot of time, meaning you can get on with other important errands.

Some great ways that technology can help boost productivity are:

• To-do lists for planning out jobs.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) tools so you can easily organise your clients/customers.
• Calendars for scheduling meetings etc.
• Programs for creating documents, e.g. Google Docs
• Note-taking apps.
• Project management sites to organise your projects.
• Apps for time tracking.
• Schedulers that help plan and post your social media content.

5.Take Regular Breaks

It’s easy sometimes running your own business to forget to look after yourself. Working too much can make you feel burnt out and exhausted, neither of which will help with motivation and productivity. Everyone is different, so it will take some time to figure out what works best for you, but your body and mind need you to remember to take regular breaks.

Your brain can only take so much at a time, so it’s best to make sure you give it the right time to “reboot” itself. You could even try to schedule your breaks into your day or set a reminder so you don’t forget. Planning your rest time means you will feel re-energised and ready to carry on with more work.

When working for yourself, it’s crucial to have the self-discipline to be the most productive with the time that you’re paying for your coworking spaces in London (and indeed anywhere else!). As long as you plan your day, take regular breaks and keep your workspace tidy, there’s no doubt that you will see an improvement in how much work you can get done.

When you next search for “coworking spaces near me”, be sure that here at BluDesks, we have everything you need to help you feel productive and comfortable when you’re fed up with working from home!

Renting coworking space has boomed over the past few years. It has always been something that is associated with freelancers or start-up businesses, but our workspaces to rent in London are used by a wide variety of different trades and industries from all walks of life! The way that we work is changing dramatically following the pandemic, and more and more people are looking at private office space rental – but what makes them so sought after?

Flexible

With people having to be ready to change their routines at the drop of a hat, renting coworking space is the perfect solution. You and your employees can choose when and where you work for the day – whether that be early morning – to be ready to pick the kids up from school – or you are a night owl and productivity only occurs in the evening, we can cater to everyone. More employers are focusing on giving their employees more choices and flexibility in their work routines following the pandemic, so it makes sense that private office space rental has become one of the most popular choices.

Cost efficient

When you are looking for workspaces to rent in London, you will find that many office leases are expensive, and you are tied in for a very long time. Not to mention the overheads that come with an office lease – maintenance, cleaning and office furniture, it all starts to add up! If you are a freelancer who just wants to put your head down and focus for a day, or a start up business with no idea if you will be able to commit to a long lease, then renting coworking space is the perfect solution. With different options such as pay as you go or pay monthly, you only pay for the space and the time that you use – what’s not to like? It also works for larger businesses who are looking to expand or want to employ someone who can work remotely. There is no point in paying for space that you may not end up using, so private office space rental is perfect for all kinds of budgets.

Networking

Workspaces to rent in London are the perfect arrangement – a whole building full of like-minded people from all different trades and industries. You will find that you are exposed to people that you wouldn’t meet if you worked from home or in a coffee shop, and the fact that you could be sitting next to a new person every day is perfect for those who are looking to meet new customers, clients, and even friends! When you are renting coworking space, you know that the people around you are also looking to network, and maybe even collaborate! The possibilities are endless.

Perks

When you use private office space rental, you also get access to all of the perks that come with it. All of our business centres come fully furnished with ergonomic furniture and comfy breakout areas for when you need to recharge. We also offer high speed internet, meeting rooms, printers and scanners so you don’t have to factor these into your budget! You simply turn up, pay for your space and then get stuck in! If you’re lucky, you’ll be in one of our workspaces to rent in London, which come with really special perks including private gyms and bar areas for those after work drinks, what is not to love?

Locations

When you are renting a coworking space, one of the first things that you think about is location. Well, you are in luck! Our private office space rentals are conveniently located all over the UK, so you can choose where you want to set up for the day. Whether you are looking for somewhere close to home to beat the rush hour commute, or you are looking for an office space close to your new customer so they don’t have to travel far for a meeting, our workspaces to rent in London, and the rest of the UK, are ready and waiting for you. All you need to do is open our app, search for your prefered location and book a space for a hassle-free transaction.

Productivity

For people who normally work remotely – or from home – it has been made clear in recent months that using our London rented workspaces significantly improves their productivity. By working somewhere that has the buzz and atmosphere of an office, it can encourage and give you the focus that might be missing if you are working on your own. By renting coworking space, it helps employees get into the right routine and mindset for a productive day at work. We can also offer private office space rental that is based in a quiet section of the building if you need privacy or no distractions.

Covid safe

One of the biggest advantages of renting coworking space at the moment is that all of our offices are covid compliant. There are so many rules and regulations that must be adhered to in order to make sure that you and your staff are safe when at work, and by using private office space rental we can take all this hassle and stress away for you. Each of our workspaces to rent in London, and the rest of the UK, will be following the below procedures:

• Increased disinfecting – All of our offices will be more regularly cleaned and disinfected, with hand sanitiser to be places throughout the buildings
• Increase in signs to make sure that everyone that uses our private office space rental knows the rules and follows them to keep everyone safe
• Controlled capacity – there will be a maximum number of people allowed in to make sure that everyone is able to work at a socially distanced space.
• Screens – more screens have been put up between workspaces to make sure that everyone has their own personal working space

With all this in place as standard practice, it means that you don’t have to worry about writing the risk assessments to make sure that your office will be COVID-19 compliant – we have it covered!

So, why are you still trying to make our new work routines and lifestyles fit a traditional office environment? By renting coworking space you are exposed to new ideas and different people that you wouldn’t normally have the chance to meet, whilst working in a modern office that is covid compliant and full of perks. It’s time to get out of the mundane corporate bubble and try something new!

Workspaces to rent in London , and all over the UK, have been steadily gaining popularity since they were first introduced 2005. However, in the last 18 months they have proved themselves when it looked like the pandemic could have meant the worst for them. COVID-19 changed a lot about our lives and our daily routines, and it especially changed the way that we work. It has shown employers that instead of everyone going back to the traditional office environment, more people can work productively on their own and in a coworking office space.

6 reasons COVID-19 made Coworking Spaces important

During lockdown, people managed to carry on with their work routine, they just changed how it was carried out. In this blog, we are going to take a look at how coworking office space really started to shine during the pandemic.

1. Coworking in London, and other major cities, is cost-effective

It is no secret that some businesses have been hit hard by Covid-19 and its impact on both the economy and the workforce. With so much uncertainty in business and with no idea when things will settle back down again, renting London coworking space has been the answer for many companies. Suitable for both small and large businesses alike, the pay as you go or pay monthly options have been welcomed by a large variety of companies. Whether people have had to unfortunately scale back due to the pandemic, or their business has boomed, coworking in London gives you all the perks of a fully equipped office with health and safety guidelines already in place. It means that you don’t have the added pressure of long expensive leases or worrying about the overheads that come with renting an entire building. All you need to do is find the right coworking office space for you and your employees and leave the stress to someone else.

2. Hygiene and safety

Health and safety can be a minefield at the best of times, and it’s only set to become trickier as restrictions are eased. Being COVID-compliant will be key to get businesses back up and running again, and this comes with a lot of unease for many employers. By renting coworking office space, you can take away a lot of the hassle and stress as all of our office buildings have strict health and safety procedures in place including:

• Signs – Our London coworking spaces (and the rest of the UK) will be clearly signed to make sure that everyone knows the rules, and there will be people there to monitor and make sure they are being followed.
• Capacity control – we will never let offices get overcrowded, there will always be a carefully monitored maximum capacity that we adhere to.
• Personal Space – all of our coworking office space has been carefully modified to make sure that people can work comfortably and socially distant from others. With the addition of screens, you don’t need to worry about someone invading your space.
• Increased hygiene and sanitation – all of our coworking office spaces are being more regularly cleaned and disinfected to help control the spread of COVID-19. There is also plenty of hand sanitiser available, as well as gloves and wipes throughout the building.

We have completed all the necessary risk assessments required for a COVID-19 compliant office so that you don’t have to worry.

3. Employee mental wellbeing

Coming out of a global pandemic has not been easy, and it has highlighted that there needs to be a greater focus on employees and their wellbeing. Working from home has been a challenge for everyone, but it has shown that people are now placing more emphasis on family and mental health. By using a coworking office space rather than a typical and traditional office environment, more employers are giving their staff more flexibility and freedom. Some staff are using coworking in London to shorten their commute and give them more time at home, whilst previous home workers are happy to use coworking office space to give them the buzz and atmosphere of an office which they didn’t have before. After employees have proved that they can work on their own and still be productive, many companies are using coworking office space to give their staff more freedom and flexibility than ever before.

4. Community / networking

Now more than ever, people will need to feel the support of a community to help get back on their feet – in both business and home life. By renting a London coworking space, it has shown that networking and having that support is easier to come by then when you are based in a traditional office. You come across new people from different trades that you never would have done previously. When you are coworking in London you get the chance to collaborate and expand your customer base like never before! This sense of community and network is definitely the key to getting everyone back up and running again!

5. Future proofing

As we all know, the lockdown has shown that people really don’t need to be in a traditional office working 9-5 to make sure they get the job done, and in most cases, it has actually increased productivity! By getting their staff used to coworking office space and remote working, many businesses have been future-proofing themselves in case we ever go back into another lockdown. It is far easier and more cost effective to rent a London coworking space that is fully equipped with hi-tech gear than it is to kit out an entire home office set up for each individual employee.

6. Hybrid working

Across many different trades and industries, we have seen people bringing together different aspects of home working and office working. Hybrid working gives the employee the freedom to choose where they would like to work – whether that be at home because a child is poorly, in a coworking office space because it is closer to home, or of course working at the office. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that coworking spaces are important, and that more businesses are taking this flexible approach. This new attitude to work means that people can choose a different and safe London coworking space each day if necessary and makes them feel more valued and appreciated by their employer.

There is no doubt at all that COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had a big impact on all areas of our lives, and it has forced people to change their perspectives and re-evaluate their priorities. It has also shown that people can be trusted to work remotely, whether that be at home or using a coworking office space – and that they can continue to do so in the future in an arrangement that can suit both employees and employers alike. Flexibility is a key aspect to getting businesses back up and running again, and that is something that has stood out for coworking office spaces throughout the pandemic.

BluDesks are delighted to announce that Landmark, one of UK’s major serviced/flexible office providers has joined as a partner and will be promoting their wide portfolio through the BluDesks workspace booking platform and app.

The partnership will allow BluDesks to offer Grade A workspaces from coworking to private offices in an additional 38 locations across the UK.

Through Landmark, BluDesks will be offering multiple options, from coworking day passes, project offices and meeting rooms to multi-year custom designed private offices, aimed at corporate employers, SMEs and Freelancers.

Chelliah Nakeeran, BluDesks founder and CEO comments, “This partnership with one of the UK’s most prestigious workspace providers, greatly increases our scope for providing true versatility and agile solutions to our rapidly growing client base. We are delighted that Landmark have chosen us and they represent exactly the broad range of offices and facilities that are growing in demand globally.”

BluDesks are benefiting from companies looking to close or cut back on existing office space or leases, or save costs on relocating, who are looking for additional flexible office space for meetings, project teams, or private offices, or additional hot desk capacity for staff, and the deal with Landmark further improves the range of flexible office space and meeting room options that BluDesks can provide.

Landmark commented, “We see our partnership with BluDesks as offering us greater scope to reach our target markets with greater ease and efficiency. We were impressed with the BluDesks approach and their business culture and approach are a very good fit for our business.”

The Landmark office space portfolio is now fully listed on the BluDesks platform.