“While before people were fantasising about working from home… the single most common request over the course of 2020 was from individuals who could not work productively from home, be that down to lack of space, lack of connectivity, or simply lack of inspiration or human interaction,” says Tom Foster, the firm’s UK boss.
So why do you ask about flexible workspaces? Let’s rewind a bit.
As the world turned upside-down last spring, everything changed. The way we coped during the lockdown at home was amazing, funny, boring and, at times, chaotic. Meanwhile, education systems pivoted to totally online curriculums that, neither the providers nor the parents were prepared to take on. After years of declaring online classes were not as valuable as in-person learning, now we needed to pivot and sell the value of online learning. The jury is still out on how the consumer views the online shift.
Pre-COVID, some jobs were shifting to a more remote basis, as where and when people liked to work was in a state of flux. We did see that an increasing preference for coworking spaces and flexibility in work schedules was changing the landscape of the office in many ways. However, before the pandemic, many were behind the mindset “This remote thing will never work!”. However, the spring of 2020 proved that remote working does work, as video conferencing took over our work lives, as well as our home lives.
Initially, this video-conferencing lifestyle allowed us to peek inside the homes of our favourite celebrities and our boss’s kitchen, along with providing built-in comic relief. Then the pandemic dragged on and kids, spouses, roommates and pets became unwelcome distractions that intruded on your workspace and added to your pandemic fatigue.
It will still take some time for larger companies to get back up to speed, and return to the traditional office environment.
Now, almost a year later, with vaccinations underway and the end of this life-changing pandemic almost in our sightlines, the world is taking stock of what the working world looks like from here and it appears the future of work is more flexible than we imagined it could be before COVID-19.
Because it will take a while for corporations to rework their office spaces to implement social distancing measures, install no-touch doors and instil a sense of safety with added sanitation measures in place, it could take some time before large companies get back up to speed fully with a full employee roster returning to work on-site.
Remaining remote for the foreseeable future
With economic uncertainty in the air, some companies are looking at their futures and deciding that remote workers are the best thing since the Internet. Working remotely, during a pandemic to help you and your employer stay afloat, is what most people opted to do for the greater good of the economy. However, just when remote workers were chomping at the bit to work anywhere except at home, employers, beginning to see how technology could help them cut overheads by their employees continuing to work remotely, said, “Hey there, love what you’ve done with your kitchen, and keep up the great work from home.”
Remote work does not have to mean “at home”
According to a June 2020 Entrepreneur.com article, author Alex Sixt points out that employees enjoy the ability to choose where they work, citing an Oxford study that showed that a whopping “83 percent of employees, remote or on-site, say that a remote work opportunity would make them feel happier at their jobs.” As people working from coworking spaces have known for a while, employees are more productive when they feel happy in their work environments.
Coworking spaces and other flexible shared desk space companies are all set up to offer those remote workers who cannot go back to the workspaces yet, a home office away from home.
Is history repeating itself?
Initially, coworking spaces started gaining popularity when the novelty of working at home, in your PJs, wore off for those small business owners, tech start-ups, and other remote workers who experienced the first wave of telecommuting. Around 2010, those remote workers, feeling the isolation and imbalance of working and living in the same place, started to flock to coworking spaces for the connection to the local business community and to regain a work/life balance.
Is history repeating itself? The answer is “Yes”. After being forced to stay at home for almost a year, some remote workers stand to benefit from their employers working with them to get them out of the house a few days a week, twice a week, or even several times a month. It is no secret that the workforce and employers, facing the most challenging economy in a decade will want more flexible ways to work moving forward.
Large companies and corporations can accommodate their remote teams at coworking spaces
Fortunately, many large corporations looking to incorporate some of the pre-pandemic coworking, community, and collaboration vibe into their office environments were already using the convenience of coworking spaces for their remote teams. Instead of investing in regional offices to expand into new markets, bringing personnel together at a coworking space in various locales, allowed large companies to test the waters first and begin establishing roots in those business districts. Also, large companies and corporations were already using coworking spaces for remote teams working on projects that required in-person meetings.
The near future sees more small, medium, and large companies using flexible office spaces as a hybrid between working at home and going back into the office. The monthly access and easy scaling capabilities at flexible workspaces also allow companies to set up in-person meetings for teams or individuals every week or a few times per month. For larger meetings, flexible workspaces also include conference and meeting room hours in some plans, with additional hours available at discounted hourly rates.
At Venture X, our focus has always been on the future of flexible workspaces! With your safety as our priority, Venture X continues to offer welcoming spaces with upscale, socially distanced shared desk spaces, private office spaces, and comfortable communal areas for breaks. While no one can predict the future of work, we can assure you, flexibility will play an essential role! Venture X offers remote workers a home office away from home. Contact us to schedule an in-person tour or take a virtual tour now.
After all, Venture X is the future of flexible workspaces!
While it is true that remote workers and at-home-start-ups save money working from home, as your business grows, most small business owners reach a point where home and business need to happen in separate spaces. When you need a real office, you start looking around to lease commercial office space. So many factors go into finding, leasing, and outfitting an office and this endeavour often takes the focus away from your core business initiatives. We know that just finding and leasing an office can be a full-time job, and can come with downsides, like wasting money. So, what are the hidden costs of office space?
Commercial leases can be complicated and expensive
A commercial office in a prestigious area will not come with a bargain price tag. The popularity of coworking/flexible workspaces evolved partly because office leases in such areas proved prohibitively expensive to tech companies and start-ups that didn’t actually need full-time physical office spaces. At first, an office of your own seems like the most business-like move you can make to grow your company, but since most commercial leases often involve a longer term commitment you may not feel comfortable with that level of obligation yet. When you start looking at office spaces, there are a few other things to keep in mind before you sign on the dotted line.
All-inclusive or not
Some commercial leases mean that your monthly rent is all-inclusive but most of the time, office leases only include the monthly rental, which will be lower than fully serviced leases. However, this means that in addition to the rent, you’ll be expected to pay hidden costs for your office space to get it up and running. These include, but are not limited to:
Your Internet connection Commercial rates for things like fibre-optic Internet will cost several times more than the residential rates you’re familiar with. Fast dependable Internet is important for your business because unlike cable and DSL, fibre Internet speeds are synchronous. For businesses that upload large files, this means that it takes the same time to upload files as it does to download files.
You’re going to need some office furniture Not only are you going to need furniture but also, a look that speaks to your brand’s image. This includes paint or other wall coverings, possibly flooring and rugs or carpeting. If your office has a reception area, you’ll need a focal point, such as an art piece or specialty lighting installations that make a statement at your entrance. One or more ergonomic office chairs are a good investment but you will want to go through a commercial office furniture company.
Coffee? Tea? In a solo office, you can brew a pot of coffee or make tea for yourself, no problem. If you’re a gourmet coffee drinker, then it’s off to a local coffee shop, for you. That’s a £5 a day treat that can cost over £100 each month!
What about snacks and meals? While most office spaces for one to two people don’t usually include a kitchen or even a sink, you may have access to the building’s kitchen. If that’s the case, you could bring in your ingredients and make your lunch there. You could just pack your lunch but if that’s just not your thing, you’ll need to budget about £10 a day for lunch. As for snacks, that’s on you! If it’s just for you, it’s simple but when others are involved or you have a lot of in-office client meetings, then individually wrapped snacks need to be purchased and distributed to appropriate areas.
Who’s going to clean your office? One of the biggest hidden costs of office space. Some leases may include basic dustbin emptying and vacuuming, weekly. If your lease doesn’t include office cleaning, then you’ll need to contract a company to clean your office, although many independent cleaning pros might not charge as much. Overwhelmed and disillusioned yet? No need to be. A realistic, money-saving office space awaits you!
Venture X to the rescue! With flexible, monthly contracts that include everything you need to do business every day, including coffee, tea, and water, it’s no wonder coworking spaces, such as Venture X, have changed the way people like to work. In addition to business class office equipment, cleaning services, and first-class amenities, you can choose your workspace, to fit your needs, whether it’s a space to work once or twice a week, a full-time dedicated desk space or a private office. Our diverse community of small, medium, and large business professionals offers opportunities to build your brand’s base and feel a part of something larger than just your own business.
Owning a business is about growing that business. Venture X allows you to get right to work in our upscale surroundings, without taking your focus off your core business initiatives, while saving a significant amount of money. At Venture X, our goal is to help our members grow their businesses and spark their creativity. Venture X, designed for your success.
Contact your local Venture X to schedule a tour!
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