Remote and Co-working, and how to make the most of it
“Covid-19 has caused a drop in employment 14 times bigger than the financial crash of 2008” – The Economist
It’s no new news to find out that the Covid-19 pandemic has shaken the labour market and changed the way we think about how (and where) we work.
Before the pandemic, people that worked from home, or “flexibly” made up around 5% of the workforce in the UK. Now, in 2022, that number is around 63%. Consequently, employers have had to think on their feet and are having to offer new solutions for their employees.
Employers are starting to realize the benefits that having their workforce working flexibly can bring. Studies show that people often report higher levels of happiness and are more productive when they have the option to work flexibly or from home. It comes to no surprise that when people feel like they can balance work with home life, they are more motivated and productive.
The Future of Work?
What are co-working spaces? And how can you make the most out of them?
The Covid-19 pandemic has bought with it a new way of thinking about the way we work. The move to home and remote working has given rise to “co-working spaces.” Co-working spaces are a fairly new idea that have grown massively in popularity in recent years. These spaces are an arrangement in which workers from different companies share an office space. This may be a specific office, library or a coffee shop. These places help to tackle the social isolation that people can feel when working home alone. They are all about bringing together a community and building a collaborative spirit.
Some businesses that operate remotely such as ecommerce, marketing and freelance companies are starting to encourage their staff to work in these co-working spaces as they help boost morale and motivation overall by providing a place of community and inclusion.
With more and more people beginning to explore the option of co-working environments, now is a better time than any to invite workers into your library, café, or coffee shop.
As well as being a great opportunity for the venue itself, moving your business into a co-working environment will also help your employees. As the “coffeeshop effect” means that people are more productive and focused due to a lack of interruption and a bit of background noise.
So then, how can you make your space more inviting to businesses, freelance, and home workers?
The Best Way to Enhance your Co-working space
We think the best way (amongst other things) to fully utilize a co-working space is to use contemporary furniture. Whatever the theme of your space is whether it is an office, coffeeshop or something else, having the best furniture to fill your space works wonders.
It is always important that your space is planned well and spec’d out with the best, most suitable furniture. A well thought out workspace can boost mentality and productivity. So here is our list of things that we think are important for building a successful and productive co-working space.
- Atmosphere
Atmosphere is everything in a co-working space. People choose to work in these places for the community and background buzz. Therefore, it is important that your space is calm and inclusive and offers somewhere where people can be relaxed and productive.
- Location
A prime location that is central to people and easy to get to, is almost essential. People won’t choose a venue if it takes too long to get to. Many co-working spaces are cropping up in cities and this attracts many different types of professional people. But there are other things that you should bear in mind such as what kind of atmosphere are you aiming for? Does your flexible workspace require a quieter location? If so, then maybe a busy city centre might not be best. Also bear in mind cost and competition. It is no surprise that a city centre location will be more expensive, and you be around more competition, so you need to weigh up your options carefully.
- Additional Areas
It is important that we are all able to take a break throughout the working day and providing extra areas where people can do just that will massively boost your venue. Offering a breakout, reading area, or canteen space will offer people with the opportunity to get away from their work and re-energize. Studies show that regular breaks increase motivation and productivity so, making sure that people have somewhere to unwind is vital. We provide a huge range of breakout solutions on our website so be sure to check them out today!
- Food and Drink
This ties into location. Being near to the right amenities is important to the success of your co-working venue. People need to be able to have snacks and drinks throughout the day to keep energized and motivated. However, if your venue is not near many of these amenities, it may be worth considering providing food and drink if you don’t already. As not all co-working spaces are cafes and coffee shops, providing food and drink may seriously boost the success of your venue. Not to mention it is a good income booster too. At Cost Cutters UK we also supply a wide variety of canteen and café furniture.
- Equipment
High quality furniture and fixings will create a sense of quality, perhaps even luxury which people will appreciate and keep them coming back to use your venue. Well designed and manufactured furniture is also important for the health of people that use them. Chairs that are durable and well-made will support the user and won’t put any stress on their body. It might also be worth considering height adjustable tables. This helps with ergonomics and makes it easier for disabled people as well as people that prefer to work standing up. We supply a wide variety of ergonomic furniture solutions, why not take a look on our website.
- Effective Planning
When it comes to planning the layout of your co-working space it is important you don’t overcomplicate it. A simple design can do wonders, remember less is sometimes more. The space should be open and light and cater to the physical needs of the users. At Cost Cutters UK we offer an expert space planning service to make the most out of your space.
Ready to turn your venue into a co-working space?
Shop all of our contract furniture now! And discover all our available offers and discounts. Don’t forget that we also offer a bespoke and expert space planning service to fully make the most out of you space and transform your venue into a successful co-working space!
Calls us on: 03333 44 33 70
Or visit: www.costcuttersuk.com