So much is changing in the way that we are choosing to work, and using a coworking office space is becoming the more popular choice in recent times. With many people being forced to work from home due to the pandemic, to an increasing number of people starting up their own business ventures it is not difficult to see why the flexible and cost efficient route of hiring shared office space is coming out on top. Instead of the burden of commercial rental leases and the stress to manage it all, coworking office space is the new version of office work.

When you are looking for a coworking space for rent, it is easy to get confused with the amount of variation, phrases and terms that people use, so here we have made an easy guide to make sure that you are in the know.

Coworking space – this simply means that you can hire a desk or larger office space for your workers, or on your own if you’re a freelancer or just starting out – but you are not tied into long commercial rent contracts. Fully equipped with wi-fi, printers, photocopiers and scanners, it is the perfect place to get your head down and focus whilst still having the buzz and atmosphere of an office environment.

Hot Desk – no single desk is assigned to the same person. Simply find an office using our app and turn up! You can choose your desk and it means that you will always return to a tidy desk free from clutter. Remember, a tidy space means a tidy mind!

Dedicated desks – these are workstations in a coworking office space that an individual can call their own. Workers that choose this option like to feel comfortable and at home by choosing the same space each time they come to work.

Shared office space – this is effectively another way of saying coworking office space. The growing popularity of shared/ coworking office space for rent means that there are many options available to make it a convenient, flexible and low cost option for many businesses.

The short answer is, yes you can! If you are using BluDesks in order to be flexible and try out many of our coworking office spaces then it is not recommended, however if you have chosen a dedicated desk or corporate membership then our receptionists will be able to take calls and mail for you. Essentially, you need to think of our coworking office space to rent as a one stop business solution. All the perks of having an office with none of the commitment and overheads that can cause stress and worry during quiet times. Our coworking office spaces provide you with a professional mailing address to use for your business, and our meeting rooms and break out rooms make it the perfect place to meet clients and customers in a professional yet relaxed environment.

Where is the best coworking space?

At BluDesks, we have coworking office space to rent all over the globe, do you are never far away when you need us. Once you sign up and register with us, you will have instant access to fully-functioning and high quality workspaces near you – wherever you are. Whether you want a local office to take a break from working from home, or you have to visit customers at the other end of the country and want an office environment to focus properly, there is never a BluDesks too far away. Simply download the app and use the search engine to find coworking office space to rent in the city of your choice, and book within seconds with just a couple of clicks. And if you can’t find a shared space nearby, just let us know and we will look for partners in your area.

One of our biggest perks is the amount of stunning coworking office space in London we have. Here, you are able to grow your business in the UK’s capital in a work environment that has everything you need and gives you the flexibility to grow. Even if you are a fully established business and not a start-up, it is simply not financially viable to lease commercial properties in London anymore. At BluDesks, we have hundreds of affordable and fully equipped coworking offices space London, meaning it is by far the most cost efficient way to set up your business when you work in the capital. No worrying about utility bills or extortionate rent, you simply choose the best option for you to get started.

Our coworking office space in London also means you are surrounded by the buzz and atmosphere that London brings, including the people. Here, you are able to network with people you wouldn’t normally be with in a traditional work environment. By being around different people everyday it is surprising what new ideas and inspirations you will come across without even realising.

Whether you are looking for a specific work location to be near customers and clients, or you want an office that is conveniently located to save long commutes, we have coworking office space in London to suit everybody’s needs.

Why choose BluDesks?

There are so many reasons you should choose BluDesks for your coworking office space but below we have narrowed it down to our top reasons.

• Our flexible pay-as-you-go plan makes it perfect for all businesses, no matter what size or budget you have. You can book for an hour at a time right up to full months to make sure you have the space that you need at the right time.
• Commitment free – all our coworking office space is commitment free, so you don’t have to worry about long leases. No rolling monthly contracts means that you can book desks or meeting rooms as and when you need them.
• The price is right – with coworking office space in London for as little as £2 per hour, by using our system it means that you won’t be paying for space you don’t want or need. Registration is also free for one year with our personal memberships, and then it is only £25 a year after that – what’s not to like?
• Our coworking spaces for rent are all fully equipped with wi-fi, printers, photocopiers, scanners and meeting rooms – everything you can think of! And they are all kitted out with ergonomic office furniture and stylish interior design.
• It is so quick and easy to register, and once you have the app it will open up a whole host of coworking office space all over the world.
• It is easy to keep track of how much you are spending as our fees are only deducted when you check out. This means that you always know how much credit you have and you can manage your spending easily.
• You can earn treats and rewards! When you tell your friends and colleagues about how fantastic our coworking space to rent is, we will reward you with free spaces!

So, what are you waiting for? Join in with the future of office work and get a space booked today!

Reimagining the traditional workspace

Instead of committing to lengthy contracts that you are tied into for expensive office buildings, our hot desk rental gives you a cost effective and flexible alternative. Whether you are looking for a change of scenery, or a desk that is conveniently located, there will always be a hotdesk close by for you. Take a look at the new working ways of the future and see how our hot desk office space can be the perfect solution for your office needs.

What is Hot Desking?

Keeping up with the evolving workforce

The number of people using a hotdesk or working remotely are on the increase in recent years. It is an opportunity to reinvent the traditional idea of an office workplace, giving workers who would normally be remote working or home working the stability of a traditional work environment. It is quickly becoming the new normal. After the pandemic forced most of us to be working from home, businesses have realised that there is not much requirement for everyone to be commuting to the same office, therefore making hot desk rental look more appealing to a wider audience.

By taking one of the most expensive elements of running a business (office rental and the overheads it comes with) and turning it into a rental service, companies can maximise on their employee’s productivity. You no longer have to spend no time worrying about how to arrange desks to fit the space that you have. BlueDesks coworking offices do this for them. This leaves you and your business free to focus on your employees. Likewise, workers then get the tools and time to focus on the job and increase their productivity.

To put it simply, hot desk rental is renting a desk in a fully established office alongside other like-minded people. Unlike traditional offices, a hot desk office space consists of members and workers from all different trades and walks of life, resulting in a professional yet relaxed atmosphere that gives a real sense of community. BluDesks offers all the facilities that a normal office does, without being tied down. By using our one-time registration fee, you are free to explore hundreds of office spaces all over the world!

Who would use hot desk office space?

Hot desking can be used by everyone, from single remote workers and freelancers right up to large companies who need a meeting space. Whilst the option is open to any professional who requires office space, hot desk rental usually attracts similar types of workers such as:

• Consultants
• Freelancers
• Entrepreneurs
• Remote workers

Using a hotdesk is a flexible, cost effective solution to finding an office space. It can help workers to combat the isolation of working from home and allows you to network and socialise like you would not normally do. Hot desk rental is also a brilliant way for those who are self-employed and travelling to various locations for their work to be able to find and book a desk whilst travelling all over the country for when you need to plug in and focus or meet with customers on a professional basis. No more video calls for clients who live far away!

Hot desk rental in a coworking space can also help growing companies. Imagine if you found your perfect employee but they lived too far away to commute? BluDesks offers the perfect solution with their hotdesk option. Your new employee can work remotely in an office environment without being at home with distractions or relocating.

What are the benefits?

Flexibility
Without doubt one of the top reasons to be using a hotdesk is the flexibility and freedom that comes with it. Some self-employed or freelancers don’t rigidly stick to the typical 9-5 so you can choose as and when you want to rent the desk, with monthly or hourly pricing. This means that you don’t overpay for how much you use, and you can work on your terms without worrying about costs.

Cost Effectiveness
It also comes in handy for those companies or are rapidly expanding, or downsizing. It allows you to take on more employees and use hot desk office space, without forking out for new office desks and chairs or upgrading to a larger office with a long lease. Hot desking has been shown to reduce the running costs of businesses by as much as 30%. With no overheads to be worrying about, and your employees happy and comfortable with their office space, you can focus on the more important things!

Opportunities to network
Being based outside of your company and the traditional office means that you interact and meet more people. By using a hotdesk, you can essentially help your business to grow by meeting people you never would have normally met. Enjoy socialising with like minded people from all different trades and discover ideas and inspirations that you never thought possible.

Communication and collaboration
When you choose to hotdesk, you have a different neighbour every day. Whether that be interacting with other departments from your own company, or someone completely new, the constant stream of new people really opens up opportunities, ideas and perspectives. Tell a coworker your new ideas over a coffee or meet potential new clients – the possibilities are endless!

Perks of the Office Spaces
Why pay for long contracts for basic needs? Our hot desk office spaces are all fully equipped with stylish and ergonomic office furniture, high speed internet and cool break out areas for when you need a timeout or catch up. As well as free coffees and a food delivery service option, what’s not to love!

Tidy space, tidy mind
The very nature of hot desk rental means that once you are finished using your desk, you leave it clear ready for the next person to use. Instead of cluttering up your desk by leaving papers, knick-knacks and personal items, you return each day to a clean and tidy workspace ready to start your day!

Keeping it Fresh
Release yourself from the monotony of returning to the same office desk (at home or at the head office!) and keep it fresh. Don’t fall into the same routine day in and day out – a hotdesk keeps you on your toes with a different desk, or even location if that takes your fancy!

Locations
With BluDesks offering hot desk office spaces all over the UK and even globally, you will not be far away from us! This means if you are travelling for work or working remotely you will always be close to pop in and use our facilities. This makes it the perfect solution wherever you are. BluDesks makes it easy and simple to find a hotdesk wherever you are. Download our app and enter your location to rent a hotdesk. This, plus our one-time registration fee means that you will never be caught short.

Hot Desking is more than just renting a desk for an hour. With BluDesks, you get a whole different experience. You get flexibility and low costs, with the use of a fully equipped office and stylish furniture, as well as access to top of the range facilities and full use of amenities. Take the edge off a monotonous office job and sign up for the future of office work now!

Revolutionise your workspace!

The way that we work is changing dramatically, with the majority of people having to work from home in the last year, there has been little to no need for rented office spaces. With everyone allowed back to work soon, more and more people are looking at coworking spaces, where people from all different companies share an office space.

It is the perfect arrangement – a whole building full of professional, like-minded people that share the same space to keep costs down and allow flexible working arrangements without being tied into long contracts. With everyone from freelancers and remote workers to independent contractors and start-up companies, BluDesks have created spaces that work for you and your goals. So, if you are looking for “coworking spaces near me”, then look no further and see how BluDesks is transforming how we think of work and reimagining the modern workspace.

Who can use coworking spaces?

It may sound a bit far-fetched, but literally anyone can make use of one of our coworking spaces. At one time, they were predominately used by entrepreneurs, freelancers and start up businesses but now our coworking space are used by professionals from all walks of life and different trades. There are break-out areas for when you need a time out, private offices, hot desks and meeting rooms; there is something for every type of worker out there.

• New Businesses and start-ups – these are definitely still a large portion of people who use our coworking spaces in London, and all over the UK. It is a cost efficient way to scale up without being tied into fixed contracts and office upkeep.
• Small Businesses – companies of all shapes and sizes can benefit from using a coworking space, but small businesses in particular can reap the benefits of shared office space. Enjoy the perks of a modern office without worrying about the overheads.
• Commuters – one of the banes of life is for those workers who have a long commute. A rise in those working from home due to the pandemic has shown that not everyone has to be based in the office all week. Those who live far away can spend the majority of the time in our shared coworking space, and only come into the office when necessary.
• Remote workers – The same goes for those who are permanent remote workers. Take the edge off home working, and the distractions that come with it, and enjoy the buzz and atmosphere of an office!
• Freelancers – Whilst it’s good that freelancers can set their own times, work from home and be their own boss, sometimes it can be a bit boring and lonely. Many freelancers have chosen to start using a coworking space to have a professional working environment to give themselves a boost.
• Meetings – for larger businesses that don’t have appropriate meeting rooms, or are tired of video conferencing, all of our offices are spacious, fully equipped and conveniently located for you to book out for all of your meetings and discussions.

How much does it cost to rent a coworking space in London?

One of the biggest attractions of coworking space London is to keep the costs down and allow flexible working arrangements. We offer two types of membership, one for those who are working alone and a corporate membership for larger teams looking for a coworking space for remote workers all over the country.

Personal Memberships
For those who are working on their own, whether it be a start-up company, freelancer or a remote worker, our pay as you go membership is the perfect option. All you have to do is sign up and download the BluDesks mobile app, search ‘coworking space near me’ to find the closest offices, pay for the booking and then turn up on the day! When you first join, you get a personal membership pass free for the whole year, and after that it is only a £25 annual fee.

Corporate Membership
By choosing a BluDesks corporate membership, you can let your employees choose where they work from and when – there really is nothing more flexible. It could be that they work partly from home, a couple of days at BluDesks, and as and when they are required, they can work from the main office! It really is as simple as that. As a corporate member you can choose which employees have access to our coworking spaces in London and even globally for those who are looking to expand.

8 reasons why you should use a coworking space:

If you aren’t already signing up to come and check out our office, we’ve put together a list of reasons why BluDesks coworking spaces are your perfect workplace solution.

• There is a sense of community and collaboration – instead of being in the same place, or working from home, you’re able to be around people doing all kinds of different work and trades. By using our coworking space it means that you can socialise and even be inspired by people you never would have met.
• There are a lot of perks that come with the coworking space –Our business centres are fantastically equipped with hi-speed internet, ergonomic office furniture and cool break areas to take some time out. You can also enjoy food services and loyalty rewards – the list is endless!
• More flexibility – you can choose where and when you want to work, from working through the day to popping in for the evening, our offices suit you and your needs.
• Our coworking space can suit any size of company, from one person start-ups or freelancers to larger teams who need a space to meet and collaborate.
• There are networking opportunities – here, you can surround yourself with goal-oriented and like-minded people, and our spaces expose you to different people you would not have had the chance to meet previously.
• Convenient locations – with our coworking spaces in London and globally, you are sure to find a location nearby. Just head to the app to find your nearest space and book for a hassle-free transaction.
• It has been shown to have an increase in productivity – if you normally work alone then you will have the atmosphere of the office, no home distractions and lots of people who have motivated themselves, which will boost your productivity and creativity.
• Cost-efficiency – why pay for an office space that you are not using properly? Grow your business without being tied into long term contracts and spending money on rent and overheads.
• Covid Safe – take the pressure and worry off your shoulders of making sure that your work environment is safe and sanitised. All our offices are covid compliant, and means that you can focus on your work rather than cleaning!

By using a coworking space, you can help yourself or your employees get out of the mundane corporate bubble. You are exposed to new ideas and people, whilst in the comfort of fully equipped and stylish offices. As a company, you can bring remote workers together in one place to brainstorm, boost productivity and meet clients in a buzzing and thriving office. BluDesks is a flexible and cost-efficient way with no commitments – reimagine your new normal!

There’s been a lot of talk and speculation lately about what our new normal in terms of working will look like, as we begin to come out of lockdown and employees and employers alike consider what their wants and needs look like in a post-lockdown world.

But what is a tribrid working model and how does it work?

The term tribrid refers to there being 3 options within the working model, working from home, working from flexible workspace near home, and lastly working from the head office as would have been much more the norm in pre-Covid times.

The 3 option working model has come about due to a number of factors, not least the fact that many workers welcome the flexibility and much reduced commuting times during the last 12 months.

For employers, it’s not all been bad as they have seen that work and productivity can actually increase or at the very least, stay at the same level where employees work from home.

Big names like Unilever, BP, Marks and Spencer and Apple have all come out in favour of a potential tribrid working structure in future months.
M&S is seeking to convert the upper levels of its Marble Arch store on Oxford Street as part of a wider redevelopment of the site and then lease it to City tenants.

Even British Airways is currently considering the sale of its headquarters near Heathrow as employees have readily adopted to remote working and the ways of working have proven to be effective over the period of the pandemic.

BA commented in a recent statement, “The global pandemic has shown us that many of our colleagues enjoy working remotely and want to continue, and this has accelerated our approach to offering more agile and flexible ways of working,”

“Our aim is to find a hybrid working model that suits our business, blending the best of office and remote working for our people.

“We’ve also re-structured our business to emerge from the crisis and are considering whether we still have the need for such a large headquarters building.”

Although there are many voices in favour of a future of tribrid working, there are still notes of concern that we need to balance the benefits and efficiency of remote working with that of being present in an office with colleagues in-person.

Speaking to People magazine, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently stated that while he thinks Apple will become more accepting of remote work, he also believes getting people together in the physical sense is important, at least for some of the things his company does.

Cook stated, “My gut says that, for us, it’s still very important to physically be in touch with one another because collaboration isn’t always a planned activity.”

So for tribrid working to be successful, businesses may need to consider the percentages given to each option, for example, a given number of days per week that employees are expected in the office, then the rest at their own discretion, where they can choose to either work at home or in a local business centre.

Chelliah Nakeeran, CEO and founder of workspace booking platform Bludesks.com commented, “It’s becoming obvious that the future will see a huge difference in what is considered the ‘norm’ for how we all work. We see the tribrid working model as one that offers both employers and employees the best possible solution, where the needs and wants of both parties can be fully satisfied. Of course, there are many fine details for this arrangement to work, but the trend is growing rapid momentum as we come out of lockdown and as so many major brands reveal their future plans.”

The positive effects of hybrid or tribrid working also extend towards the environment, as with less traffic and congestion on the roads, there are less airborne pollutants, which is a concern for both the public and for businesses as we look to reduce the effects of greenhouse gasses and global warming.

So naturally, environmental groups and lobbyists are also keen to see a continuation of remote working in the future as we come out of lockdown.

Global Workplace Analytics recently estimated that remote workers could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 54 million tons every year – and that’s just if people worked out of the office for only half of the working week.

So it would appear to be obvious that reducing the sometimes long commutes into head offices that are often situated in dense city areas, will only have positive benefits for the environment as a valuable bi-product of remote working.

BluDesks have been aware of the need to therefore provide flexible workspaces nearer to the home locations of workers as a key part of the strategy to enable greater remote working options to workers, without the need for extensive travel.

Chelliah, further comments, “We know from our research and from the many voices coming from industry that the tribrid working model relies on having these workspace options nearer to where workers live, so that they have realistic choices of working outside of home, without long journeys necessary.

BluDesks has been adding ‘local option’ workspace options across the globe, to provide a readily accessible network of workspaces that can be used on a flexible Pay-as-you-go basis, giving that essential third option over head office or home office.”

It would appear that the third leg of working in professional workspaces nearer to home is a good option for many as we are probably all aware that home working has its serious flaws on occasion.

Not least the potential for distraction from pets or kids, workmen in neighbours’ properties and the ever-present delivery drivers knocking on front doors up and down the country.

Another aspect is connectivity, where the home broadband, although ok for general browsing or listening to music, lets down when it comes to supporting Teams meetings and other bandwidth heavy applications.

These limitations have been the driving force for many to seek a change and the search for local business centres.

Martin, an IT recruitment manager states, “Although it’s (working from home) been great for the flexibility and managing childcare, I’ve struggled at times as my home doesn’t have the space and there’s my partner trying to work too. I’m definitely looking for other options if this is looking like a more long-term thing.”

Are there any downsides to the tribrid working model? Some have raised concerns that giving too much scope for flexible working may lead to a loss of control at corporate level, and a danger of loss of productivity.

Bosses have also considered what they see as the potential additional expense of booking workspaces for employees as an additional expense, when they have already signed long-term property leases on city centre head offices.

As with all new working paradigms, there are many aspects that will not suit everybody and some compromise is more than likely to make the tribrid working model work.

But looking at the strategic choices of so many major brands, it looks like the drive for a longer-term flexible working model, hybrid or tribrid, is likely to gather further momentum over the coming months.

Now on lockdown 3.0 in the UK, it’s true to say that by now, most people have settled in to the home working scenario, but although it has obvious benefits to workers, in terms of flexibility, there are many aspects that make working at home difficult for a wide range of workers.

Flexible space operators have not been slow to recognise that behind the oft-interrupted Zoom or Team calls, there is genuine stress being experienced by workers, trying to keep a professional image against a backdrop of distractions and regular home WiFi dropout.

Workspace providers have therefore been busy in preparation for what is seen as a potential upturn later in the year, once the effects of mass-immunisation start to bring infection rates down and confidence returns.

This has included making spaces fully Covid-Compliant, introducing new space utilisation, in terms of fewer workstations per area, as well as signage and hygiene facilities to encourage user confidence.

Local coworking has a number of benefits over the home office, not least that in a professional coworking space, the technology and connectivity are almost always on point, allowing freelancers, journalists, film-makers, businessmen with data-heavy apps uninterrupted.

Of course, during the current lockdown, the use of remote work centres outside the home has reduced, but many workers are still finding it worth the effort to use a local flexible office for necessary work tasks, they are finding impossible to do at home.

It’s not just about connectivity, many workers simply don’t have the space to allow for proper working and concentration, often appearing on office Zoom calls sat on beds or in crowded spare rooms as a backdrop!

Pets and children are often making unscheduled appearances (or sounds) during online meetings, further aggravating an already tense home working situation (not to mention copious Amazon drivers knocking, or the house next door cutting tiles).

Unilever’s CEO, Alan Jope, announced in mid January of this year, they would never be making a full time return to the office, read the article here

For many workers in businesses like Unilever, whose leaders are making similar strategic moves, this creates mixed emotions, i.e. they love the flexibility and relative independence, but loathe their inadequate home-office facilities.

Indeed, in a recent article published on HR News from TopCV, the world’s largest CV-writing service, whose research revealed that UK employees want ongoing flexibility from their employer, with just 7 percent of professionals ranking an office return as their top priority for 2021. See the full article here

Localised flexible working would appear to have benefits for both employers and their workforce, as it gives the best of both worlds to each party; that being greater productivity and reduced fixed office costs for employers, and improved staff morale and wellbeing for workers.

It remains to be seen how everything unfolds over the coming months, but many observers see flexible working outside of the main office as something that’s only going to increase in demand, even long after lockdown restrictions have ended.

Since COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, businesses are re-evaluating their approach to running large head offices, especially as their employees are expected to come out of furlough and return to work.

A recent report by JLL stated that ‘hybrid models’ of workspaces are becoming more popular, where both co-working spaces and private offices are blended to give companies greater flexibility in work patterns.

Although the demand for flexible workspaces is expected to grow over the coming months as things begin to return to something resembling normality, greater provision for privacy is sought as a direct result of the pandemic.

It’s true to say that the priorities for tenants, as well as corporate employers have turned to hygiene and safety. Flexible space operators have been quick to respond with increased social distancing, at the cost of occupancy and a greater provision of private spaces for businesses and individuals to hire.

Although the report stated the obvious downturn in demand during lockdown, it paints a rosier picture of the longer term outlook stating that demand is expected to rise in the coming months and years ahead.

This is particularly so for the larger corporate businesses, as the report states, ‘A global survey conducted by JLL revealed that 67% of CRE decision-makers of large corporates are increasing workplace mobility programmes and incorporating flexible space as a central element of their agile work strategies.’

And it further goes on to state, ‘In a revived post-pandemic market where flexibility is high on the corporate agenda & the purpose of the office is centred around collaboration, flexible space should emerge stronger than ever and growth could quickly return to its impressive pre-COVID rates.’

The hybrid approach of combining both coworking and private office facilities may well be the future, with some operators in the space already adapting their available spaces into enclosed ‘pods’ that allow the user a separate space, albeit in a small area.

One thing that appears certain, is that the appetite is out there for workers to return to work in flexible spaces, as long as they feel that their health and wellbeing is properly considered.

On the part of employers, whilst it’s already been widely reported that many do not see themselves returning to having large numbers of staff in large office buildings, they too are regarding health, hygiene and general wellbeing as their highest priorities.

As the report concludes:

‘Flexible offices are likely to represent something of a ‘middle way’ between corporate HQ’s and the more dispersed demand for remote working.’

We will watch with interest as the fallout from the Covid-19 Pandemic and its ongoing effects unfold across the flexible space industry.

 

The beginning of August marks the end of the governments advice to work from home and signals an era when many offices will re-open and employers and employees make key decisions on where and how they’ll work in the future.

It’s been widely publicised that many corporates, such as banks, law firms and retail groups have been re-evaluating their policies on keeping large head-office locations, with many stating a strong intention to make flexible and home working the norm as we return to more normal post-lockdown work patterns.

With the ever-present threat of a second phase of Coronavirus, it’s true to say that from a worker perspective, the home working, or working from flexible workspaces closer to home, is a popular option.

Many workers have posted on social media, and commented on news forum posts, making it clear that they much prefer this new reality, albeit, if many have struggled due to their home set up.

Difficulties in working from home can be many and varied, but the common threads of the main problems include; poor internet connectivity that struggles with Zoom meetings and high-bandwidth tasks, physical space (many people working from bedrooms or sofas) and distractions from pets and other family members.

Working from local flexible workspaces, therefore, would appear to be a very good choice for many, especially if the spaces can be sourced and used nearer to the home location.

This gives a number of benefits;

Firstly, with professional flexible workspaces, the connectivity for internet, conferencing, data uploads and downloads is generally much more reliable and robust, so that online meetings can go ahead without downtime or distraction.

The working environment is much more conducive to running a business, with appropriate desking, telecoms, breakout areas and rest areas. This means that productivity is greatly increased, over that sometimes possible in some home locations.

With locations sourced nearer to the domestic residence, trips to the head office for the necessary office facilities are greatly reduced, this saves on pollution levels, stress coming from long journeys and the resultant loss of productivity.

Lastly, flexible office locations can be very important in offering remote workers the opportunity to see other people, socialise (within correct social distancing recommendations, and be in the proximity of others. This is extremely important, given the recent isolation presented by Covid-19 and lockdown.

The August 1^st onset of the new ‘go to work’ position from the UK Government marks the start of a new paradigm for the way that all of us work, it very much remains to be seen how this will unfold and until things settle into the ‘new normal’ it will be a case of seeing how it goes.

One thing that is for certain, is that the need for flexible working solutions, remote communication technologies and demand for more localised work locations will only continue to rise in demand.

It’s a very exciting time for the flexible space industry, as it adapts and rises to meet this new demand from the previously head office located workforce.

 

The government has recently decided to provide grants for businesses with shared workspaces.

This was as a result of significant pressure brought about by our petition, along with other voices across industry, highlighting the unfairness of grants not applying to a large section of businesses – particularly those working from shared workspaces.

The statement on the Gov.uk website:

‘A discretionary fund has been set up to accommodate certain small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme.

This additional fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs. We are asking local authorities to prioritise businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates. But local authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need. The allocation of funding will be at the discretion of local authorities.’

You can read the full article here

The £617 million being made available represents an additional 5% uplift to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF).

Check with your local authority to apply.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who added their voice to our petition, or who took time to support the cause in other ways to make grants fairer for small businesses working from shared workspaces. This money will really help many businesses stay afloat in these very difficult times. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Barclays boss, Jes Staley recently commented, that in his opinion, having thousands of bank workers in big expensive city offices ‘may be a thing of the past’

There is no doubt that the current situation has caused many people on both sides of the employer/ staff divide to question what was, before Coronavirus was a reality, and how they will choose to carry out their work in the future.

Not least in this reckoning, is WHERE people choose to work. Jes Staley went on further, to declare that Barclays were having to rethink the bank’s long-term ‘location strategy’ – how they would accommodate different working patterns and remote work locations in the future (Barclays currently have 70,000 of their global workforce working from home, due to the Coronavirus measures).

So what will the future look like for a modern workforce, post the Coronavirus pandemic?

To answer this question, it’s wise to consider the many opinions of normal people who have switched to working from home, from a larger central office.

One can pick up very quickly, that for many, lockdown has actually been a more positive working experience, as the pressure of a long daily commute, overcrowded buses and trains, traffic chaos on motorways, pollution, road-rage and  public transport delays…(to name but a few), have become an ever more distant memory.

Do we want to go back to what was before? Although some are happy to go back to the status quo that was, others are far more reticent and have taken readily and enthusiastically to home working.

In a recent interview for BBC Scotland, career coach, Adrian Marsh stated that; “For the employee, the number one thing that people love is the flexible schedule, he said. You don’t have to be tied into the 9-5.

“Some people love the fact that you can work from anywhere, so maybe you take yourself off for a long weekend, but you do a bit of work on the Friday in that location. And some people find working from home is nicer than working in cramped office environments.”

Adrian went on to mention the benefits to employers from a reduction in office costs, as well as improved productivity rates from happier workers and longer retention of staff.

 

Flexible Shared Workspaces

For many freelancers and contractors, flexible remote working was the norm, long before Coronavirus, self-isolation and lockdown.

But even sole traders and the self-employed have had to make many adjustments to home working, with the closure of many of their regular haunts, in the form of cafés, coffee shops and shared workspaces.

So will the working from smaller, shared workspaces become the norm, post-lockdown for many more of the city and office based workers?

If anything has been proven during the lockdown, and much to the surprise of many employers, is the fact that on the whole it’s been successful and business continuity, even improvement in some cases, has been experienced.

A recent article in The Guardian, reported that; ‘As governments across the world have placed their citizens on lockdown, downloads of video conferencing apps have soared to record highs and the companies behind them have seen their share prices rise while the rest of the global stock market tanks.’

Ironically, given the current situation and the post-COVID-19 problems alluded to above, Zoom’s founder, Eric Yuan first came up with his idea for video-conferencing while at university in China in the 1990s, when he would travel by train for 10 hours to see his then-girlfriend, now his wife.

“I detested those rides,” “I used to imagine other ways I could visit my girlfriend without travelling — those daydreams eventually became the basis for Zoom.”

It’s likely that many employees, contractors and freelancers, as well as directors themselves will be looking towards other working solutions when Coronavirus is over, maybe a blended approach to working will be the solution, so a portion of work at home, some in the office, and some at the many shared office locations that are nearer to home?

Professional shared workspaces, nearer to a home location, may actually be the ideal solution for many in the future months, giving workers a place to work and have the essential social contact lockdown has robbed from so many, yet affording non-crowded, quiet and easy to use facilities often lacking in the home environment, and certainly lacking in crowded coffee shops and cafes with their accompanying less-than-reliable Wi-Fi signal.

Back to Barclays and boss, Jes Staley who commented, “There will be a long-term adjustment to our location strategy, the notion of putting 7,000 people in the building may be a thing of the past.”

So if other corporate entities take on the same stance as Barclays, we could see a very different business landscape in the future, as we see many more people choosing flexible work options, in or closer to home.

Whatever the outcome, it doesn’t look like it’s on the cards to return to what was the ‘norm’ only a few short weeks ago. We’ll wait and see with great interest how the situation unfolds over the coming months.

Bludesks.com is an online platform where users can search and find local workspaces for a few hours, to continuous monthly use. It is a pay-as-you-use service, offering commitment-free workspace hire in the UK and across many other countries.

LowCost Letterbox is Bludesk’s sister company providing Virtual Office packages that allow home workers to establish a prestigious London Virtual Office, where their mail can be scanned and letters forwarded, also with the facility to forward calls or provide call answering. There is a current promotion for the first 3 months at half price on Virtual Office packages.

 

You feel something’s a little out, but is it just a momentary lapse, or something more serious? You’ve heard friends and family state they’re going a little ‘stir crazy’ in the Covid-19 lockdown, but what are the signs this is really happening to you..?

1, You’re brewing up, like, all the time

Sure, you liked a tea or coffee before, but now it’s like your kettle has become your new best buddy. You’ve no sooner finished one cup and you’re looming nonchalantly over the blessed brew-maker again, what will it be… tea or coffee, coffee or tea! The only thing matching your new fervour for a constant brew is your rapidly staining teeth. Eugh!

2, Your to-do list, feels like agony to even start!

Lockdown started so well. You started a to-do list of all the things you struggled for time to do before, and your attitude was impressively stalwart and stoical in the face of your Covid-19 adversity.

A few days in… and the super-list is a long-forgotten relic of when you had self-esteem and purpose in life. Starting even the smallest task, (even though you know it would be good for you), makes you feel paralysed and a little nauseous. You need motivation, a friendly hug, a hero to come in and help, but it’s too late and they’re all holing up inside too.

3, Your personal appearance has become obsolete

You used to be known for your polished looks, pristine outfits and sharp creases as well as your impeccable grooming. Looking in the mirror now you look a little like the scientist (Christopher Lloyd) in ‘Back to the Future’ (male or female!) It’s really gone and you’re seriously doubting those days of sartorial elegance are ever going to return. You know deep down this is going to take a herculean effort to come back from and you may never look quite the same as you did before.

4, Box-sets aren’t doing what they once did

Well at least there’s lots on TV… or so you thought! Now you cannot find one damn thing you can settle on. Nothing is grabbing you and you’re gravitating inexorably back to Sky news for the latest grim headline makers and endless mundane ‘breaking news’. You lament back to the days when there was great TV and reluctantly heave yourself up to bed early, having not found anything worth watching.

5, Sleep is your only true escape!

Just as you’re brushing your teeth at the end of another excruciatingly boring day, you find yourself thinking ‘Thank God! bedtime.’ A time when you can drift off into oblivion and dream longingly, about when you could meet your mates and have a drink in a pub…when you didn’t feel like punching somebody even 30 feet from your new-found personal exclusion zone. Blessed relief for a few hours until you have to face it all again!