Long seen as the preserve of startups and freelance tech talent, coworking spaces are growing more popular with each passing year.
The offer of greater flexibility – along with attractive lifestyle features such as free on-site coffee bars and yoga classes – means that even large, well-established companies are embracing shared workspaces as a fresh alternative to conventional offices.
What is a coworking space?
A coworking space is a shared office which allows companies and freelance workers to rent individual desks or private rooms, typically by the month. This means that any number of different organisations and self-employed freelancers can share communal facilities in an open, relaxed environment.
Basic costs, such as internet connection and catering, are rolled into the monthly rental fee, and many co-working spaces offer more luxury amenities such as yoga studios and prosecco bars. High levels of comfort and stylish design are often a crucial factor in defining the ethos of a shared workspace, which aims to help its users feel at home whilst also fostering a creative, collaborative atmosphere.
At the premium end of what’s on offer, co-working spaces can resemble a mixture between a boutique hotel, stylish coffee bar and private members club. This article from ChargeSpot on co-working spaces also offers a good summary.
What are the benefits of a coworking space?
Is coworking a good choice for my business?
It will depend on a number of different factors, as described above, but here are a few pointers to help you decide.