The Right Environment: Don’t you find working from home you just have so many distractions? The kids shouting during school holidays, the phone ringing with old relative looking for a catch-up, the cat meowing at your feet. It’s almost impossible to work at your peak performance, stay focused and to work your way through that ‘to do list’ effectively. Having the right environment will boost productivity: your own desk in a smart place, giving you the time you need to really knuckle down. As an entrepreneur, it’s also important to establish a positive work-life balance, which is why having a separate environment – helps you to draw a line between your professional and personal lives. (See here for 5 of the coolest offices in the world: https://loc8commercial.com/blog/5-coolest-offices-world/ Make your space your own!)

The Right People: They say your network determines your net worth, and who you surround yourself with plays a crucial role. Co-working helps to connect you to like minded people, working alongside others who have the same drive as you. Build valuable working relationships, discuss ideas, analyse processes or results and broaden your own knowledge in areas they specialise in too. Often you’ll be working in a space that has people from different business sectors with different skill sets, which can become a valuable asset for you. Co-working amongst entrepreneurs encourages innovation, sparks a little healthy competition and gives you a real sense of community. It provides excellent networking opportunities throughout the whole building and means that as you grow your business: you don’t need to feel alone.

Flexibility: Flexibility is at the core of everything that co-working is about. You’ll have: – Flexible Contracts: Unlike standard office renting, co-working spaces don’t have the long-term commitment with set durations or terms. Instead, you can hire the space on a month-by-month basis, with the option to extend for up to two years: depending on how it’s going and what you’re looking for. Need to upsize or downsize? No problem! It’s hassle free and incredibly convenient.– Flexible Seating: Members of a co-working space can move around depending on their needs. Got an important pitch to work on? Sit in an isolated desk allowing full focus. Got lots of calls to do and want to work alongside others for motivation? Sit within the central part of your office space. You can even hire conference or meeting rooms within your building, at just a fraction of the price: making your business look more professional.– Flexible Schedule: Now although it’s important to have a work-life balance, often- as we look to grow our business around other commitments, we need to have flexibility within our schedule. The great thing is, co-working facilitates exactly for that, with most spaces allowing 24/7 access. This means you can start as early as you want/ need, finish as late as you want/ need, and come & go as much as you like throughout the day. Often, you’ll find others doing the same too, which is always encouraging.

Cost-Effective and Affordable: We understand budgets can be tight when you’re starting out. You need to invest money in the right areas and manage your ongoing costs on a daily/ monthly basis. Now often: renting out an entire office block for yourself or your small team- it’s actually out of the question. It doesn’t really make sense! Co-working on the other hand, is simply a fraction of the price. which makes it a far more feasible option. As mentioned above: contracts with co-working are flexible and most offices are kitted out with everything you need, from computers to phone lines, plus of course desks and chairs! They also tend to have reduced overheads, because most providers include all the expenses in one fixed monthly fee. This makes it easier to manage in terms of budgets and becomes far more economical.

Everything You Need and More: Co-working is designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners, giving you access to all the essential resources. Wifi is always strong, phone lines are clear, stationery is shared and you’ll even have all the cleaning done for you (because we know you don’t always have time for that!) Goodbye mess, hello efficiency! Many co-working spaces also have an abundance of meeting rooms, security, supportive staff and many even host regular events/ coffee mornings within the building to get you interacting further with like minded people.

Yep, it is pretty neat! To find out more about co-working spaces within your area, give us a shout on 020 3031 8563. We offer free, impartial advice; helping you to find the working environment that’s right for you.

The post Why Co-working is the Perfect Solution for Entrepreneurs appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Start-up businesses by new and serial entrepreneurs are one of the most exciting things happening to our business economy. We have seen a huge rise in new companies forming over the past couple of years. Most aim to keep their overheads low and often launch from the comforts of their own home or coffee shops.

Most start-ups are self-funded but a lucky few are heavily backed meaning they can grow from a bedroom business to having a global presence in no time.

Start-ups used to mainly appear in industries like Tech, Media, Product and Fashion but we are seeing a pattern towards Property, Finance, Education and Healthcare.  The rise of Virtual Reality, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Wearable tech, Automation and mobile means that these industries are growing quicker than ever before.

It’s easy to be intimidated by bleak statistics where 8/10 start-ups fail in the first 18 months.  This is evident in the lack of start-ups that IPO in 2016 but we expect a huge number of new start-ups to go public. Who could they be?

1.    AppDynamics

2.    Snapchat

3.    HotelTonight

4.    Spotify

5.    Qualtrics

6.    Cloudera

7.    Dropbox

8.    Blue Apron

9.    Stich Fix

10. Airbnb

It’s public knowledge that AppDynamics and Snapchat have already filed to go public this year and we are confident of many more.

These companies fill many different office spaces with some having more than one office. Take a look at these offices we have available for you to rent and experience working in a similar environment to these great start-up –

The Shard, SE1 – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/976/london-bridge-street-london-se1

Shoreditch/Old Street – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1493/westland-place-london-n1

Kings Cross – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/750/east-side-kings-cross-station-london-n1c

Soho – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1029/sheraton-street-london-w1f

Chelsea – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1536/fulham-road-london-sw3

The City – https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1028/devonshire-square-london-ec2m  

Whether you are a start-up, SME or a more established company we are sure to have an office solution to suit you. Please give us a call to discuss on 020 3031 8563 or alternatively search online via www.loc8commercial.com

The post 10 Start-Ups – Watch this space appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

After noticing a gap in the market for a social media marketing agency for SME’s, I launched The Social Shop late in 2013 after spending 8 years working my way up recruiting for the marketing and advertising agency sector.

Knowing I had 3 month’s wages in the bank to support me whilst I got the company off the ground, my first aim was to make sure I could cover my mortgage. I did what I knew best and used LinkedIn as a new business platform; luckily my first client came in the shape of a well-known restaurant in Camden. 

As one client turned into two, then five and then ten, I had to make a decision on an office. My overheads had to increase and in order to be taken seriously, I needed an office space. I moved into a space that my first client owned which was helpful as I didn’t have a clue where to find available office spaces! This first space in Camden was great as I was working alone. However, as I hired my first employee and my client base was growing, I needed to move somewhere neutral so all of our clients were treated equally. 

I was paying a lot for this space but had nothing else to compare it to, the 3 month notice period also didn’t seem a problem when I signed up. I quickly realised that as my cash-flow was forever up and down, being tied down to a contract with anyone was a commitment and I couldn’t stick to it for too much longer.  Therefore, we went from our own office space to a co-working incubator in Camden by a start-up called ‘Work.Life’. https://work.life/ 

‘Work.life’ was great; We were one of the first businesses to move into their first office. We were suddenly in a creative working environment with others in similar industries which was quite motivating. In addition, this space came with free tea, coffee and biscuits! Those that know me know I like to eat a lot of biscuits and drink a lot of tea, so the saving alone was fantastic!

We had access to free talks, events and were networking with new companies on a daily basis. However, I slowly realised the flexible work space in London was becoming hugely popular and there were other options that were not only more affordable, but more accessible than Camden. We were only there for 6 months but it supported 5 of us including interns. We met lots of SME’s that were in the same situation as us and the flexibility of being able to cancel our contract with 4 weeks’ notice was great.

We were very close to moving into Work.Life’s second office, a new space in London Fields, Hackney, as this was closer to where I lived. However, the desk cost was the same and contract restrictions were the same which wasn’t beneficial.

Whilst I was looking for a new flexible working space, I attended a networking event at a small incubator in Old Street which had a big personality; It was called ‘Launch 22’ based in Corsham Street. http://www.launch22.co.uk/

This place was just as cool, albeit with less capacity and free biscuits. However, it was slightly more affordable and in the heart of Tech City; A location that adds a huge amount of value to our credibility. Launch22 is a registered charity with 2 branches in Liverpool and London. Since joining we have become part of the family, a group of small businesses looking to grow with free mentorship and support from the large network of people associated with the incubator. The best thing about Launch22 for us is that we can cancel our monthly rolling contract anytime with 1 weeks’ notice. Being a small company, things can change for us on a monthly basis so this level of flexibility being in the heart of the city is awesome!

I have seen the pop up of many new but more expensive flexible workspaces around me over the past few years. I now understand there are office brokers like Loc8 Commercial, who are the best people to speak to about finding a suitable office space for your business. Speaking to office brokers reduces the timeframe and personal stress of finding somewhere new. Loc8 provide a free and impartial overview of the market and is very helpful in the way that they can give us new options that we may not have known previously. Add to the fact they gave us an insight into the workspace industry then it’s a win win.

If we were currently looking to move offices we would want to view the following 3 options from looking at Loc8’s website:  

Serviced Office to let: Curtain Road, London

https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1682/curtain-road-london-ec2a

Serviced Office to let: Westland Place, London

https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1493/westland-place-london-n1

Serviced Office to let: White Lion Street,

https://loc8commercial.com/office/serviced-office-to-let/1033/white-lion-street-london-n1

The post Guest Blog: Why we chose to work in a flexible workspace appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Become this…….

Most jobs across the country consist of employees working together for around 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. This means you spend more time with your work colleagues than with loved ones. Do you make an effort to get to know your colleagues outside of the office when the pressure of workflow and deadlines is off?  Is it ever off?  It is common in the workplace to go for after work drinks. Would you go so far as to call your fellow employees friends?

Like all relationships in life there are ups and downs and this is no different with work friendships as time, money, pressure, hierarchy, jealousy and team dynamics can all get in the way.  

Senior Management are always looking for alternative methods to get work colleagues spending even more time together. Onsite laughter workshops, team bonding activities, cocktail making, weekend breaks abroad all promote a positive and friendly atmosphere. These activities are supported by uplifting music, movement, relaxing and even meditation techniques

It’s not uncommon for work colleagues to find themselves in a situation where they’re not universally loved within their workplace.  you will rarely find an office or entire team/ department that truly enjoy being in each other’s company 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. It’s natural for there to be tension, and often some grudges. The fewer compromising positions people put themselves in the fewer problems they should have with others at work.

On the flipside of this, it is well known that people spend so much time together at work that their friendship and professional working relationship becomes more serious and develops into a romantic relationship. This again has many pro’s and con’s but I think we should save this topic for another time.

Most organisations these days especially in co-working spaces contain a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, skills, cultures and interests. These differences can collectively make a company or team stronger, they can also be the source of conflict too.

To summarise, our advice would be to get to know your co-workers. Take time to learn about your co-worker’s life and interests outside of the office but keep the lines of professionalism clear. A popular way to do this is by spending your lunch or coffee breaks with different people. This will help to grow your internal network, in addition to being a nice break in the work day.

The post Should You Hang Out with Co-Workers Outside the Office? appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

For most of us the office is not just a great place to work or get motivated. You may have worked in an office that has tired old brown carpets, furniture falling apart and desks with coffee stains on that have probably been there for 10 years.

 
The rise of tech companies has famously tried to buck this trend, showing their employees they have the ‘best’ work culture and environment to maintain their interest for long enough that they won’t have their head turned when headhunted on a daily basis. From start-ups to MNC’s they are furnishing staff with all the free food, pool tables and ‘music jam’ rooms they could possibly want. This certainly isn’t for everyone and if you are wondering what the hell we are talking about. Read on……

If you are passing Hoxton Square in East London make sure you detour to see the TREExOFFICE for yourself. It’s an ‘unsocial-able social-able’ space that shouldn’t work but does. It not only works but people have reportedly been more efficient and driven in this space. Some say it’s down to the lack of disruption although if someone in the room is on the phone it’s fair to say you will feel involved in the call.

This urban office is built on stilts around a tree. The pop-up has eight seats with power and wifi available to rent. You can also book this space for small company meetings or pitch opportunities to impress prospective clients. However, if you need the loo, well that is one mod con you won’t find here. There are of course lots of public places nearby but if it’s raining or snowing you may get wet. “It is made of compressed paper with see-through plastic and translucent polycarbonate,” says architect Kathryn Timmins. This is good for the environment, but also helps workers feel at one with nature.

 
Perched above a converted warehouse called Village Underground in Shoreditch is one of the most unusual and exciting workspaces in London. On a disused underground train. If you are fortunate enough to visit this space you surprisingly won’t feel as trapped as you could in an office.

 
The trains were stripped of their mechanical parts, then carefully lifted on to the building by cranes in 2007. It was part of a project to make affordable working spaces for artists. As we all know Shoreditch is very well known and respected as an area for creative and artistic types and seems to be growing with all sorts of interesting characters.

Since 2007 many have seen the advantages of leaving the coffee shop environments for these special places. Working in an open, creative and unusual location can be inspiring if not scary at times.

 
People that work in these spaces don’t conform to the typical 9-5 jobs. It wouldn’t be crazy to see a member of staff arriving at 10.30am and leaving at 9pm with lots of ‘creative’ breaks throughout the day. It has been suggested these locations are more relaxing environments and allow you to ‘get in the flow’.

 
One question we have, how good is this space in the middle of winter?

 
For those that get the train to work then spend 8+ hours a day on a train for work, we are keen to hear from you and if it’s as cool as it looks?

Multi-National Companies like Google have taken this concept and expanded it on a much larger scale. They also offer soft benefits that will make you want to never go home, these range from free meals, free gym membership, free coffee, ride to work schemes, discounts off Google products oh and being the first in the world to know how they are helping change the world with technology.

Whether your business is looking for something funky and unusual or something a bit more traditional Loc8 can assist in finding you the perfect office for your business. Give us a call to discuss on 020 3031 8563 or alterntiavely get your search started here

The post The UK’s most unusual Workspaces appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.

Picture yourself working on your business in your home office. You begin well, but after a while you start to lose motivation. Eventually, you get distracted and start doing something else. That’s the reality for many people. Especially if they’re working from home, or even at a public place like a coffee shop. That’s why co-working has become more popular. It disables distractions, and enables innovation.
How many times have you been at work on a project, and stumbled upon a mental block? It’s probably happened quite a few times… Co-working helps to alleviate those problems. Community helps everyone feel connected, and bearing that in mind, you’re able to work with more industry and attention.

By working in a shared office space, with like-minded people, you automatically get into work mode. You don’t even have to be working on the same project. Any lingering feeling you have of not working is diminished quickly. After all, everyone around you will be working on their business, and that creates a social pressure. One that’s only going to help you and your business grow. In fact some of the fastest growing companies have emerged from Co-working spaces.
In short, co-working spaces in serviced office spaces enable you to get your work done. Additionally, they propel you to work in the most effective and efficient way you know you can. You’ll be paying a price to rent the space – so you’ll want to use your time as well as you can.

Additionally, serviced offices allow you to create new connections, network, and learn from other professionals. A convergence between people with different skill-sets creates a hive of ideas and productivity. You can bounce ideas off other people, and pick up certain bits of information, potentially huge in value. For these reasons, shared work spaces have been attracting a huge amount of freelance workers and business people from all industries.

Cloud computing and mobile technology has helped push this change in the industry. The conventional office will still be a foundation for co-operations and businesses. However, for start-ups and entrepreneurs, a cheaper solution in the form of serviced offices has opened up. Co-working is the side effect of that change. Businesses have followed suit, by allowing their employees to work from remote locations, creating more flexibility for employees and a more mobile economy for the world. This has created a boom in the number of Co-work spaces that are now available across the UK. Co-working is definitely here to stay.

The post The rise and rise of Co-working appeared first on Loc8 Commercial Blog.