Perfect employee space

The first article in a series of helpful guides for local businesses.

In 2020, working from home went from being a perk to a necessity for many companies. But now that businesses are able to return to some kind of normal, they're finding that running a traditional office isn't necessarily the best way to operate, both for employees and for the business itself.

If you've been exploring flexible working and looking for flexible office space for your employees, you're not alone. Almost two-thirds of global organisations use coworking somewhere across their portfolio. Could flexible office space be the future of working and how do you find the right coworking space for your business?

What are flexible office spaces?

Flexible office spaces -- otherwise known as coworking spaces -- require a lot less commitment than a traditional office. You can often choose a monthly rolling contract, rather than signing a lease for 5-10 years. You'll be sharing your workspace and amenities with other businesses and employees or freelancers.

There are a variety of different options on offer when it comes to your workspace. You can rent offices of different sizes, choose fixed desks, or go for a hotdesking option where your employees work from any location in the common areas. These spaces have a variety of places to work, from sofas to desks to phone booths and pods.

All the furniture is provided, so you don't have to kit out your new office, and the space is ready to move into straight away.

What are the benefits of coworking and flexible office spaces?

Flexible office spaces are a great place to network. They are collaborative spaces with businesses and freelancers working under the same roof and you can easily get to know potential contractors, suppliers, partners, and even customers. Most of these coworking spaces run regular member events so you can get to know your fellow office workers in a natural setting, whether that's bonding over the free fruit at breakfast, or taking a yoga class at the end of the day.

As flexible office spaces normally have breakout spaces and meeting rooms, it's easy for your team to collaborate in the same way they do in a traditional office. They are good places to socialise, both with colleagues and other members of the space and they can boost morale by enabling better connections.

Working from home can also be difficult for some people, whether that's through lack of space, poor Wi-fi connection, or small children interrupting Zoom calls. Flexible office spaces give employees a break from the monotony of working from home and provide somewhere reliable and quiet to work from when they need to.

If coworking spaces are thoughtfully designed, they can boost productivity and enhance creativity. According to a recent study, workspaces that are well designed and bright can improve productivity, lower stress and increase wellbeing. The study cited the presence of art and plants as important to enhancing creativity and helping employees do their best work.

Not everyone wants the same kind of working space and it's normally impossible to design a traditional office that meets everyone's needs. Some people want to work in a vibrant, open plan office while others crave a quiet area with no distractions. As flexible office spaces offer a variety of different environments, all your employees can choose the area that suits them.

Let's also talk about scalability. If your company grows, you don't have to worry about finding new business premises. You can simply request more desks or offices in the same space.

How do I choose the right flexible office space for my business and employees?

Start by working out what you need. Think about how many employees will use the space and how often they will be there. Do you want to rent full-time offices within the coworking space or are you happy with mostly using the communal areas and booking meeting rooms as needed? Will you and your employees work there full time or will you drop in occasionally? Do your employees work out of hours and will they require somewhere to work at night or during the weekend?

Then book a tour and be sure to read the reviews online or get recommendations from people in your network before looking around. Some coworking spaces even offer trial days so you can see whether you work well there over a longer period of time.

When you're on the tour or trial day, think about what kind of space and atmosphere works best for your company. Do you need a quiet space or are you happy with background music? How much light does it have and what is the office aesthetic? Consider location. It needs to be located somewhere that is convenient for your team and where they don't have to return to their old commutes. Is it in a vibrant area with good options for lunch and after-work drinks?

What about the social side of the flexible office space -- do they run regular events and prioritise creating a sense of community?

Ask your employees want they want from a coworking space. If you want to reap the benefits of improve productivity, creativity, and wellbeing, you need to make sure your employees feel comfortable, happy, and at home in their workspace.

How much do flexible office spaces cost?

It depends on location, facilities, and a number of other factors such as access to perks including events, lockers to store items, postal address, and so on. It's important to think about how much you can budget for a flexible office space first and go from there.

Are you reading to give flexible office spaces a try?

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