Is A Co-Working Space Right For Your Business?

Co-working has become a popular working option for many. Starting as a way for freelancers and sole traders to enjoy the benefits of an office, businesses now use co-working spaces instead of traditional office space, either as a direct replacement or as a means to provide their staff with a workspace away from the distractions of home.

While it may not be right for everyone, co-working is an option that many businesses can consider to help meet their business needs while also offering flexibility to their teams.

Common Concerns About Co-Working

Despite its growth, there are still many concerns about co-working, although many are misplaced.

It Is Too Distracting

Many imagine that co-working is, somehow, a less suitable working environment. However, in practice, co-working is essentially the same as working in an office: people have turned up to work, so the noise is usually the result of people being industrious. Indeed, most find that rather than being distracting, the atmosphere actually makes them more productive.

It Is Not Private

Co-working spaces are typically designed to minimise overlooking, but privacy concerns remain, which may make them unsuitable for confidential or sensitive work. However, in an age when private offices are rare, simple steps, such as locking computers and not leaving papers unattended, are more than enough to ensure privacy, just as in other shared office spaces.

It Is Not Your Own Space

Co-working does not always mean hot-desking. While short-term bookings may be at different desks, packages are available that provide a dedicated desk within a co-working space. These can even include secure storage, making it more ‘your’ space than you might find in a dedicated hot-desk environment at a corporate office.

The Pros Of Co-Working Spaces

Businesses using co-working spaces can get the best of both worlds for their teams: a professional working environment, while still providing the flexibility that workers increasingly desire.

Flexible Workspaces

Co-working options are incredibly flexible. Desks can be booked for just a few hours, all the way up to having a dedicated space with a longer-term agreement.

It also offers the opportunity to grow or shrink as required. If you are a startup expanding your team, it is easy to get additional desks. If you are using co-working to provide spaces for remote workers, and your team changes, you are not tied into a lengthy contract paying for a space that no one will use.

Productive Office Environments

Numerous studies have demonstrated that flexible working arrangements can enhance productivity, while also showing that most employees appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with others at least some of the time. Co-working spaces meet that need, combining a productive and professional environment with opportunities for socialising. It is the best of both worlds.

Co-working also fills the need for support services that cannot be replicated at home. Providing reliable, fast, and secure networking and services, including printing. We can also offer virtual office services, which include a mailing address and a dedicated phone number.

Cost-Effective Solutions

Co-working space is a cost-effective way to provide office space for your staff. Traditional office space incurs a lengthy list of overheads, ranging from the cost of the space itself to utility costs, local business rates, and insurance.

Co-working spaces are typically charged inclusively, meaning that one fixed fee includes every utility and amenity you will need.

Spaces With Potential And Opportunity

The social aspect of co-working was a key factor in its initial popularity. These were especially valued by those who might otherwise spend the day working alone. However, it was soon discovered that co-working was also incredibly beneficial for business.

A co-working space might have a dozen different businesses all in close proximity, and that can create multiple opportunities. The person at the next desk might be a new customer or supplier, or even a new business partner. At Pinnacle House and all our sites, we organise events to help our co-workers meet and provide networking opportunities.

Convenient Locations

Co-working spaces can be found almost anywhere, and that means they are likely to be close to you. Co-working offers a happy medium between a long and frustrating commute and the distractions and imperfections of working from home.

In addition to Pinnacle House, we offer spaces in three other locations, ranging from vibrant urban centres to restful parkland settings. All are conveniently located for transport, and offer numerous parking spaces, with EV charging points, as well as secure cycle storage.

Is Co-Working Right For Your Business?

Co-working spaces offer several advantages over more traditional office spaces, which may make them an ideal solution for your needs.

Businesses that might benefit include:

• Smaller companies and entrepreneurs, for whom the costs of a traditional office lease do not make sense because of their size.
• Those with large numbers of remote workers can offer co-working spaces to provide a better work-life balance.
• Newer companies or companies that are scaling. The flexibility of co-working is ideal if you are rapidly expanding, allowing you to grow without carrying the overheads of unused space while you scale.

Getting Started

The flexibility of co-working spaces means that you can start almost immediately. You can find the right location and venue, and be at your co-working space in less than an hour!

Call, email, or book a tour on our website, and we will show you around not just the working spaces but also the communal areas, breakout spaces, and meeting rooms, as well as some of the other services we offer, such as virtual offices. You can also explore our managed office spaces to see how you can grow with us. We will even introduce you to some of your future co-workers so you can hear first-hand about the benefits of our co-working spaces.

Co-working offers a host of benefits, and the good news is that you can start feeling them right away at Pinnacle House.