Doing your 9-5 at the office, sat at your own desk, is no longer the norm in British business. Things have changed drastically since the pandemic, and businesses are now looking for more creative ways of supporting the way their employees prefer to work.
These days, businesses are more open to the idea of allowing their employees to work from home when they want. That might be on a part-time, full-time, or other basis.
This type of working allows for a more flexible workspace arrangement, with many businesses and freelancers now renting external space on a dedicated and/or hot desking basis. This encourages coworking alongside other businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals from different industries and markets.
What are the advantages of having a flexible workspace arrangement like this, and which type of environment do people prefer?
Dedicated workspaces have become extremely popular
Unlike a hot desk, a dedicated workspace in a coworking environment, is always there for you.
There is something quite comforting knowing that you will always have access to a desk when you need it, but still have the freedom and space to co-work, building a sense of community and belonging. Working remotely can be a little disorientating and provide challenges when it comes to managing your work routine. Having a workspace away from the home can be just what you need.
A dedicated workspace, within a rented facility, is a space that you can personalise (if you choose to) and is kitted out with all the tech (i.e.: high speed WIFI etc) you need to operate productively and efficiently.
Many coworking facilities have air-conditioning, a facility for making refreshments, with car-parking, secure access, spacious desks and ergonomically designed furniture, providing the ultimate workspace environment.
A dedicated workspace like this is rented out in advance. Yes, that’s a regular expense, but, if you compare it with other costs associated with a more permanent arrangement at the office, it’s often more cost effective for a business.
So, there are many benefits. Whether you’re working as a small team within a coworking dedicated space, or by yourself, the idea of having your own desk is one that many prefer, providing surety and continuity. Its somewhere where you can work productively and efficiently during the day, but when you have finished, you can leave it all behind allowing you to go home and relax.
What about hot desking?
If you want ultimate flexibility, then hotdesking is something to seriously consider. Yes, you can still co-work alongside others, but it’s a more open arrangement.
There may be some businesses/individuals that don’t need a dedicated space 24/7, preferring to rent a hot desk a couple of days a month/week to support the way they work.
Think too about the problem of the internet dropping – if you’re at home or working remotely on the go, and suddenly in the middle of an important task, your internet fails! Booking out a last-minute hot desk can resolve the situation and mean you can continue to work for as long as you need.
This kind of arrangement is best suited to the smaller business, or individual worker, as it can be difficult for some to concentrate on team projects in a bigger coworking environment. However, some like the structure of an entirely collaborative and spontaneous environment as it makes them more creative.
Unlike having a dedicated workspace in a coworking environment, having a hot desk, when you need it, provides the ultimate choice, saving money but also providing workspace variety when you want it.
Some people can find working from home monotonous
Choosing to work on a hot desk basis provides a refreshing change, and opportunity to meet other people that work in a similar way. This encourages conversations and collaboration which can be a real bonus if you are a small business or start-up.
On the other hand, some prefer the surety that a dedicated space brings. Sometimes having to work from a different desk can be disorientating and difficult to adjust to. There are many that believe familiarity within a workspace can lead to increased productivity, as you feel more comfortable and at ease.
If you, say, work from home a few days a week, but there are too many distractions there, and you have an important report or financial statement to prepare, renting a hot desk, so you can just get on with it, could be the option for you.
Coworking spaces are on the rise
It’s no surprise that coworking workspaces are on the rise – fixed office space often comes at premium and with added financial strains associated with energy costs, tech and other services.
The idea of an ‘elastic’ workplace where people work from different places really seems to make sense, and managers and company CEOs from across the globe are buying into the idea as a way of future-proofing their business.
The fact is we are now living in a post-pandemic world, and expectations have changed. The workspace is evolving, not just in Britain, but globally and its widely accepted that coworking spaces provide data security, cultural alignment, and a happier place where the work gets done and employees feel more content.
Stability or spontaneity?
Whether you’re a freelancer, work for a small business, digital nomad, want to work remotely but still have a homelife, or just want to try a different way of remote working, hot desking and dedicated workspaces are here to stay and there’s plenty of choice when it comes to finding the right environment.
Book it in advance, book it today, book it on an ad hoc basis – we are all working in different and better ways now, and it’s up to us all to find a space that best supports the way we work.
If your idea of a great day at the office is freshness and spontaneity, then a hot desk could be for you. Or if you like the idea of working in a regular space that you know and own, a dedicated regular workspace could be the solution. Both foster a vibrant environment where businesspeople can create, resolve, collaborate, produce and innovate, on their terms.
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