Flexibility is the word of the decade in the world of working practices. Where 2019 saw the world working from home, the 2020s have found us navigating a new route to workspaces that no longer include a private office as the default. The ideal, it seems, is a flexible alternative that combines home working with an accessible coworking space. This model frees up office budgets, allows businesses to scale up their space as needed, and provides a social haven for remote workers seeking connection. 

The market has not ignored this shift in working and it has responded in force, with London alone providing over 1,000 shared spaces.  

But what can you expect from these offices? And what takes a space from ‘good enough’ to actively exciting to work at? 

We’ll explore the key factors to the success of shared office spaces and what you should look for when making your move to coworking. 

It may seem like a given, but not all shared offices are located equally. Many shared spaces are on the outskirts of town and require a car to reach. This is the first hurdle many coworking spaces face. A centrally located space with easy access to public transport is the perfect solution for teams that are spread out. Not only are they easily accessible, but they also provide a wealth of social opportunities to enjoy outside the office. 

No longer are shared offices laid out like call centres with rows of desks. From break out spaces to individual pods, large meeting rooms and sprawling sofas. An effective and engaging shared office encourages free movement across environments. This promotes comfort and socialisation and improves productivity through an ever-rotating choice of settings. The importance of having these varied spaces cannot be overstated, as they allow you to experience one office in multiple ways and mix up how you work depending on your mood.

A good coworking space isn’t just desks and chairs; it’s a crafted balance of comfort and functionality. Walk into some shared offices, and you’ll feel more like you are in a contemporary lounge than a workplace. Coworking offices dedicate serious time, effort, and money to create the most enticing workspace. After all, they often compete with the comfort and convenience of home offices. Themes that emerge in popular shared offices are greenery, open plan spaces, calming colour schemes, modern design and high-end kitchen facilities.

Socialisation is such a huge benefit of shared working, and it involves more than just being physically around other people working. The best shared office spaces actively encourage networking and connection through social evenings, breakfast mornings, holiday celebrations and beyond. If social time is lacking in your current working from home situation, the coworking community may just be the fix you’ve been looking for.  

At Clockwise, we’ve been busier than ever creating coworking spaces to help people thrive. Over the past three years, we’ve increased our number of offices across the UK and Europe, with each office offering a premium working experience that goes beyond the basics. 

Centrally located in convenient locations across major cities is the standard for Clockwise. From there, we focus on crafting enticing, contemporary, ergonomic spaces, drawing on years of proven expertise in designing creative environments that fuel productivity. Our offices embody these principles to enhance the work experience. 

Each space features lounges, private offices, and meeting rooms, and most also have cafés so you can go from conference calls to caffeine fixes at a moment’s notice. Come via public transport or bike into our in-house bike storage. With the best Wi-Fi and technological support in our offices, you’ll never have to deal with frustrating connectivity issues again. At Clockwise, we host a variety of events focused on social gatherings, wellbeing activities, and professional development, ensuring there’s always something engaging happening beyond the workday. 

Explore our flexible plans, which offer you dedicated daily access, your own private space, casual usage or even just a day pass for when you’re passing through a city. 

Contact us today to discuss how we can make your shared office dreams a reality.