An Essential Guide: Choosing the right coworking space

Coworking has taken the world by storm following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has completely upended traditional ways of working. Interestingly, the term ‘coworking’ was originally established in 1999 by American game designer, Bernie De Kove, while the overall concept of a coworking ‘space’ can be traced back to 1995 in Berlin. Here, C-Base created ‘hackerspaces’, laying the foundations for the modern coworking spaces that we know today.

In London alone, there are now over 1,400 coworking spaces. With such vast numbers, finding a coworking area that suits the needs of freelancers, startups, growing businesses, and large corporations can be overwhelming.

We delve into the reasons why individuals and organisations are opting for this type of working, and what to look for in a coworking spot.

Who should use coworking spaces?

Coworking spaces are suitable for a diverse range of professionals – from freelancers, remote workers, startups, budding entrepreneurs to SMEs, and large corporations.

Freelance or solo workers: for those who work independently, coworking areas offer a sense of community and connection, which is essential to mitigate common feelings of loneliness associated with remote work. These spaces also promote a healthy work-life balance and enable hybrid workers to work privately away from prying eyes and common distractions through the inclusion of soundproofed pods and private zones.
Growing businesses and teams: entrepreneurs and small and midsize businesses (SMBs) benefit from shared office spaces as they offer opportunities to develop brand partnerships, in a cost effective, an accessible location.
Established businesses: larger companies can also leverage coworking zones and private offices for additional flexibility, 24-7 access and reduced overheads. These also allow members to work in a range of locations, at schedules that suit them, enhancing job satisfaction and overall productivity.

A hub of innovation, coworking spaces offer much needed autonomy and usually come equipped with state-of-the-art connectivity, shared facilities and onsite support.

What are the types of coworking spaces?

A sub product of flexible workspaces, coworking areas should offer a range of facilities to accommodate the various needs of all members. These include shared communal areas for casual chats over coffee, collaborative working areas and meeting rooms for hosting events, completing interviews and facilitating group work. These amenities can boost productivity, enable cross-collaboration among various businesses and industries, and foster an inclusive culture that brings people together, becoming a melting pot of creativity.

Types of services include:

Coworking spaces: designed for solo workers and teams, these areas feature large desks, informal meeting areas and quiet phone booths for maximum privacy.
Meeting rooms: available for coworking members and teams, these rooms can be booked for internal meetings, presentations, or interviews, offering an additional layer of confidentiality.
Private offices: ideal for businesses who wish to grow and scale due to the flexibility and facilities offered, supporting various work styles, blending privacy with low costs.
Blog studio: a designated space for content creation, providing creatives with a supportive, soundproof environment, with high-speed connectivity and tools that support collaboration and inspiration.
Photography studio: this specialist area will provide a flexible layout and essential equipment to support a range of photography assignments or projects.
Product demo suites: These services will include interactive displays, versatile layouts and sophisticated digital tools, such as audiovisual software and essential technical support.
Event spaces: these flexible spaces can accommodate larger groups and are predominately designed for workshops, seminars, networking events, or company parties.

Key considerations of finding the right working space

Accessible location

For those in central London or the surrounding areas, commuting into the city will require a straightforward trip on the Underground. However, for individuals or businesses in more rural areas, or with less developed transport networks, commuting by car relies on nearby parking for accessibility and convenience. These costs will be important to factor into your overall budget.

At Adapt by ARC, members can reach us by bike, car, bus, tube, plane or even helicopter. The space is based just three miles from Junction 16 of the M40/M25 and Uxbridge Underground Station is just 20-minutes’ walk away. There are also ample parking facilities, including electric car charging points and new covered storage for 50 bicycles, providing complete stress-free accessibility.

Regardless of whether your choice of workspace is in a central city location or a more rural location, businesses and solo workers will also seek working areas that offer outside areas to relax, get fresh air with regular breaks and promote positive health and wellbeing.

Welcoming design

Traditional cubicles, siloed working and outdated technologies result in high-staff turnover and staff dissatisfaction.

The design of a coworking space should be open, light and create an immediate welcoming atmosphere as soon as you walk through the door. The inclusive design should feature adaptable, open plan communal zones, with ample natural light due to an extensive use of glass, creating a sleek, multipurpose environment. Shared resources, such as printers, high speed Wi-Fi and tea and coffee stations will also help bring people together and create a collaborative atmosphere.

Functional layout

Often spanning anywhere between 100-250sq feet, shared areas, private offices and meeting rooms should be strategically placed within a functional layout. Each area should be complemented with an ambient temperature and be furnished with premium office furniture to enhance productivity and encourage collaboration. Private pods should also feature a sleek and sophisticated design that can complement a flexible layout.

Reduced costs

For startups, growing SMEs and larger businesses, costs will naturally be a key driver when setting up a workspace.

Investing in a collaborative spot can result in reduced overheads, a larger professional area of work, and access to exceptional amenities, with the ability for networking. Additionally, businesses can avoid expenses associated with maintaining a costly digital infrastructure.

Networking opportunities

In established office spaces, employees generally work with the same individuals every day. Although this can lead to a comforting area of work, it can reduce the possibility for cross collaboration and networking.

Coworking spaces provide solo workers and teams with the opportunity to interact with other independent workers. Informal chats, professional workshops, and social events open to all members can also help to enable knowledge exchange and provide support and advice. Flexible offices can also help with business networking, allowing members to meet future clients, potential suppliers, expand their networks and further their careers.

Improved work-life balance

Coworking areas place a significant emphasis on the employee experience, where welcoming workspace designs and agile environments make members feel at home. Comfortable seating in lounge areas, meeting likeminded individuals through shared social areas, as well as for private conversation or relaxation all contribute to allowing for an improved work-life balance. Coworking can also help members to embed a regular routine, help to further productivity and provide a healthy separation between work and home.

Community

By bringing together individuals from all works of life, coworking members can develop strong personal and professional relationships and become part of a supportive, thriving community, which can transpire both inside and outside the office. Coworkers can get involved in regular weekly events, such as game nights, run clubs, and even breakfast club meetups to help promote positive health and wellbeing.

Looking for a coworking space on the outskirts of the city? Check out Adapt by ARC, which is set within 50 acres of parklands in Uxbridge, just 40 minutes from central London.