Hybrid Work and Coworking
A couple of years ago no one used the term hybrid working. Remote working, sure, but even this was still seen as the preserve of freelancers or a handful of usually tech sector employees who visited HQ in California once a year and otherwise worked fully remotely. Now hybrid working has become the default mode for many office-based workers.
The burning platform that was the COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way businesses and individuals think about the office. For those jobs that can be carried out remotely it is now widely accepted that productivity is at least as good when working remotely, that reduced commuting makes everyone happier, and that for most people the increased flexibility that hybrid working affords is a game-changing benefit. In September 2021 the government announced new proposals to deliver on their promise to make flexible working the default (although some believe those proposals won’t in fact achieve that objective).
Research by the TUC has shown that more than four out of five (82 per cent) workers in Britain want to work flexibly in the future, rising to 87 per cent amongst women workers. So the idea of flexible working as the default mode where possible is popular even if the reality is some way off.
Hybrid work and coworking
Coworking has officially been around since 2005 when Brad Neuberg set up a space in San Francisco. Since then the concept has become a global phenomenon and an essential resource for all sorts of businesses and individuals. Coworking spaces operators are now seen as pioneers of office space provision and flexible working practices.
Under the umbrella of the term coworking there are many different space providers from corporate behemoths like WeWork to independent cafes that welcome coffee guzzling laptop labourers.
Workshop the Well Thought workspace
Workshop is an independent coworking space in Winchester, UK, founded in 2016 and now home to 80 members representing 40 businesses. We think of ourselves as a boutique coworking space with personality and a membership drawn predominantly from the local community. We get to know all our members well and aim to provide each of them the space and service they need to do their best work. The workspace is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our members, partly because the profile of our members is itself changing. Initially a home to freelancers and small businesses based locally we are now providing offices and desk space to teams from global businesses as well as increasing numbers of employees working a hybrid pattern.
What Workshop offers the hybrid worker
Flexibility – officially we have 11 different membership plans but in practice (and within reason) we can design bespoke packages for individuals and businesses. We’ve recently done this for one business that came to us when their lease expired and, having looked at other options, decided to book one of our rooms exclusively every Monday to bring the team together. At other times they work from home or at Workshop on a PAYG basis.
“We were fed up with the time, tedium and expense of fixing broken toilets and boilers and sorting out temperamental Wifi! Covid gave us the opportunity to reassess both our personal and business needs. We didn’t need to be in an office five days a week and there were time and cost benefits to not commuting for up to two hours a day.
We agreed as a company that it was invaluable to work face-to-face at least once a week, but that we couldn’t justify the expense of an office laying empty for the majority of time. That’s when we found Workshop Winchester. We rent a room every Monday and have access to meeting rooms and lovely bathroom and kitchen facilities!
With fresh coffee and our favourite biscuits on tap, coming ‘into the office’ is now seen as a treat rather than a chore! Team members who live locally have the option to hot desk at any time.” Dataloft
Since March 2020 we have introduced PAYG Meet and Greet membership, shared desks for couples and packages for small businesses. We have teams flexing in and out of private offices and members regularly switching between plans at short notice. We offer this flexibility because we know that circumstances change and it’s one less thing for our members to worry about.
Community – Our members tell us that they value community above everything so we make a big effort to nurture connections amid a collaborative spirit at Workshop. We achieve this by having an approachable membership manager who speaks regularly with members and understands their requirements. We organise regular informal events for those that want to take part. We produce a light-hearted weekly newsletter that members love to read. Members are involved in shaping the future direction of the community and the workspace via a steering group that meets quarterly.
Values
What matters most and motivates us is providing and supporting an environment for productivity, the conditions for participation, all with an element of character and quality. We believe we’ve created an experience of lively harmonies and opportunities to give back, in a workplace with real personality.