Here’s what an NI, homebased freelancer said about the benefits coworking & shared office spaces have brought to her business!

A good friend of The Hub Newry, Esther Lawson of IPA Solutions, has a home based business near Newry and has recently been exposed to a number of coworking locations across Northern Ireland (NI) and Scotland, here’s what she said regarding the outcomes, affects & motivations it’s had on her business.

“Here’s my definition of coworking:

Coworking (shared office space with community) is a great way for SMEs, freelancers and other self employed individuals to work together (in the same space) without necessarily “working together” (collaborating). The very essence of coworking is ‘community’ and most spaces generally work on a membership basis and are very flexible so you could hire a permanent desk or a hotdesk a well as an office space depending on which way you prefer working. It gets ‘work from home’ types out into civilisation (let’s face it, it can be lonely working from home – been there, done that) and allows them to work shoulder to shoulder with other people from many different industries, something they couldn’t have done previously. It’s also cheaper than renting an entire office space if there are only one or two in the business, or if you’re just starting up.

Ok, so you get the idea about what coworking is. Now, why should you do it? Yes, it’s all the rage in some countries with new spaces opening up every day, but here in Northern Ireland people are still a little dubious. Maybe you’re an introvert, like your own space, don’t want people talking to you while you’re working, interrupting you. Maybe you imagine that with so many people from different companies in the same room there’ll be a lot of noise and maybe even some stealing of ideas? Well, in my (albeit limited) experience of coworking so far, I can assure you it’s quite the opposite!

Our experience of coworking & shared office spaces in NI & Scotland has meant we’ve been able to keep working with fast internet connection (essential in our line of work) and a listening ear if and when we need it. It’s given us inspiration for new ideas and services. It’s given us access to a network of other connections we wouldn’t have had otherwise. It’s allowed us to further separate work life from home life. It’s even meant we can work 24/7 if we need (or even want) to!

So maybe, rather than ask “Why cowork”, the question should really be “Why NOT cowork”? The benefits are huge and the expenditure is minimal. So get in touch with your local coworking space to see what they can offer you. You won’t regret it.”

Other reasons’s to move from being homebased to a coworking space??????

-Children; school holidays; dog next door;  partner asking you “could you just fix this for me?”; building works out on the street; washing needs hanging; kettle; comfort – bad backs with bad ergonomics.

 -Not spoken to anyone in days…?

-No structure in your day? Perhaps you just need a hotdesk one day a week or maybe move the whole business and take a permanent desk in a coworking space could really help grow your business.

Benefits of coworking?

-Community, contacts, referrals, flexibility, ergonomics are generally high spec.

-Support network, low cost, inclusive, people to share ideas with, inspire, share a good / bad day with.

-It’s not just all about work, its the whole community, events, sharing friends & situations.

-Relocating or migrating back from a different city or country? This can be difficult for everyone. We have several new members who have used the facility for this very reason, to take advantage of the support network, perhaps have no Wifi or even a permanent home yet, trying to build a new contacts.

-Sustainable, bright & vibrant atmospheres.

Businesses & Community Groups Coworking

If you’d like to learn more about coworking then don’t be shy, pop into The Hub Newry for a gander or call +44 (0)28 302 60122 or email: suzanne@thehubnewry.com for more information.