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.

Apple is to establish a new London headquarters at Battersea Power Station, one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.

The tech giant will occupy about 500,000 sq ft of space across six floors of the central Boiler House from 2021, moving 1,400 employees there from eight offices around the capital.

It will account for 40 per cent of the development’s total office space.

Apple currently has 2,530 staff in total in London, including about 1,100 working in its stores.

The Mayor of London, said the deal is a “sign that London is open to the biggest brands in the world and the leading city for trade and investment”.

The move follows a multi-billion-pound restoration of the former power station, which has stood unoccupied for decades on the banks of the River Thames.

Apple’s main European headquarter will remain in Ireland, where it employs 4,000 people

The post Apple taking over Battersea Power Station 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.

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Located in prime territory just off Oxford Circus in Londons West End, HWH was previously considered a bit of a dud, as far as innovative workspaces go. They have undertaken major renovations with the idea that “it doesn’t have to be all work” and the building now boasts a gym with yoga, pilates and suspension training facilities, as well as a state-of-the-art sound system; showers, a “drying room” and lockers; and secure cycle storage. This was a smart choice; with many Londoners choosing to bike to work to save time and money on the morning commute, and space at a premium, tenants are sure to be appreciative.

Other “play” facilities will include a library, a 20-seater screening room and editing space, a café and a rumoured private apartment for power-naps. The Office Group’s trademark ClubRooms – drop-in offices, meeting rooms and lounges of various sizes – will be featured on the ground floor along with a member’s lounge, while the penthouse is one big, bookable meeting space for that extra impressive touch. Three different sizes of boardroom cover a range of décor styles to match the tone of your meeting. And – naturally – there’s also a Member’s Bar.

The offices cover the rest of the 76,000 sq ft and the serviced office provider has made excellent use of the once-maligned space, with private serviced offices fitting up to 100 people +. Each floor has its own kitchen, dining area and lounge, full IT and telephony are provided, and tenants have the option to rent either furnished or unfurnished spaces.
Although having the facilities all laid on for you is one of the perks of a serviced office, this dedication to wellbeing – both mental and physical – is unusually enthusiastic. The Office Group has taken an uninspiring building in a fantastic location and turned it into what is sure to become one of London’s hottest serviced premises come January 2015. Smart workers will be watching this space.
If you are looking for office space or meeting and conference rooms and want to discuss your options in more detail please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 020 3434 1667 or send us an email to enquiries@loc8commercial.com. We offer Free impartial advice covering the Serviced Office, Managed Office and Co-Working market in London and across the UK.

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