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What kind of coworking space suits your business?

Coworking spaces and serviced offices have taken the UK by storm. A recent survey discovered that there has been a 67% growth in the industry in the last ten years. This is largely due to advances in technology that make remote and flexible work a viable option.

As the British business mogul Sir Richard Branson has said, different office spaces reflect on your brand. But how can a coworking space reflect on your company? It very much depends on the space - after all, there are many coworking space varieties out there.

We explore the options and how you can best represent your business through a coworking space.

The trendy ’c-office’ coworking space

The coffee shop inspired space appears fairly casual and is evocative of trendy East London culture. This is likely the reason why there is an economic phenomenon named “the flat white economy” after the stereotypical coffee drink of choice for Shoreditch-based workers.

The ‘c-office’ can be great spot for new startups specialising in accessible tech or on-trend industries. The space exudes approachability and keeps the company looking fashionable and young.

There are many independent businesses providing these spaces alongside slightly bigger companies with multiple locations such as WeWork.

However this casual vibe may not work for many companies. For certain B2B businesses it may even be damaging to first impressions.

If your brand aims to be fresh, on-trend and appealing to the 20-30s market then the coffice could be a great fit. If you’re working with older business people it’s likely to be a bad idea.

The middleground; trendy yet professional coworking space

There are many businesses that want to maintain an on trend and not too uptight business image, but they still need that professional edge. The middleground spaces can present just that.

Midlevel providers like i2 Office and Landmark PLC rent serviced office and coworking spaces across the UK. They combine great locations with open spaces and low level branding to give companies a flexible working environment. These spaces can make for an excellent workspace without graffiti all over the walls - but keeping a friendly element to them.

The serious business coworking space

The county’s biggest name in serviced offices, Regus, also provide coworking spaces. Regus and others like them provide a coworking space with a very professional front. Alongside the spaces there are usually hireable meeting rooms for entertaining clients.

Although spaces like Landmark PLC and i2 Office also provide these services, these bigger companies are likely to not allow meetings within the coworking space provided. Working flexibility is increasingly desirable - the ‘coffice’ and middle ground options offer flexibility more so than the ‘high end’ options.

As coworking spaces sweep the world it’s important that we take into account how they reflect on our business. It is no longer as simple as ‘office versus work from home’. The variations in flexibility mean we can choose spaces tailored to our business needs.

The increase in coworking spaces on the market means that providers will be both competitive and unique. With the right research a company can find the perfect space for their work ethic and their branding.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Charlotte Heather .

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