10 Advantages of Coworking for Glasgow
The way Glasgow works has changed.
For generations, establishing a business office usually meant finding commercial premises, signing a lengthy lease, buying furniture and taking responsibility for everything from broadband and electricity to cleaning and maintenance.
For many modern businesses, that model no longer makes sense.
Startups, freelancers, consultants, small businesses and established companies are increasingly looking for workplaces that offer greater flexibility. They want professional surroundings without being tied to office space they may no longer need in two or three years.
That’s where coworking comes in.
A modern coworking space can provide desks, private offices, meeting rooms, communal areas and business facilities under one roof, usually with considerably more flexibility than a conventional commercial lease.
But saving money isn’t the only advantage.
The right coworking environment can improve productivity, create new business opportunities, make recruitment easier and provide a more enjoyable place for people to work.
Here are ten of the biggest advantages for businesses considering coworking in Glasgow.
1. Greater Flexibility
Perhaps the biggest advantage of coworking is flexibility.
Traditional commercial property isn’t particularly forgiving when a business changes size.
Imagine signing a lease for an office suitable for four employees.
Twelve months later, your business is doing exceptionally well and you’ve recruited another four people.
Suddenly, the office you’ve committed to is too small.
The opposite can happen too. A business may embrace hybrid working and discover that half of its desks sit empty for much of the week.
Flexible workspace provides an alternative.
Depending on the coworking provider, businesses may be able to choose between:
- Hot desks
- Dedicated desks
- Small private offices
- Larger team offices
- Meeting rooms
- Temporary project space
- Virtual office services
As requirements change, the workspace can change too.
For growing businesses, that ability to scale without repeatedly relocating can be extremely valuable.
2. Lower Upfront Office Costs
Moving into conventional commercial premises can involve substantial expenditure before anyone has even started working.
Potential costs include:
- Deposits
- Legal fees
- Office furniture
- Broadband installation
- Networking equipment
- Kitchen equipment
- Signage
- Decorating
- Meeting room furniture
- Security systems
A fully equipped coworking space removes many of these initial costs.
Instead of spending thousands creating an office from an empty unit, a business can move into an environment that’s already operational.
Desks are there.
Internet is connected.
Meeting rooms are ready.
Communal areas are furnished.
For startups and smaller companies in particular, preserving capital can be much more valuable than investing it in office infrastructure.
That money can instead support marketing, recruitment, equipment or business development.
3. More Predictable Monthly Costs
The true cost of an office isn’t simply the rent.
Businesses occupying traditional premises may also need to budget for:
- Electricity
- Heating
- Water
- Broadband
- Cleaning
- Building maintenance
- Service charges
- Security
- Furniture
- Repairs
Some expenses are predictable. Others aren’t.
A problem with heating, broadband or building equipment can quickly create unexpected expenditure.
Many coworking spaces combine a range of facilities and services within the membership or licence fee.
Exactly what’s included varies between providers, so businesses should always check before signing an agreement.
Nevertheless, having more office costs consolidated into predictable payments can make budgeting substantially easier.
4. A More Professional Alternative to Working From Home
Working from home can be extremely convenient.
It can also become challenging.
The dining table may work perfectly well when a business first launches, but eventually many people begin encountering distractions.
Deliveries arrive.
Household jobs need doing.
Family life overlaps with work.
And perhaps most importantly, there’s no clear distinction between being at work and being at home.
A coworking space provides a professional environment where the purpose of being there is clear: you’re there to work.
This separation can help create a healthier routine.
Arrive at the workspace.
Concentrate on the working day.
Finish work.
Go home.
That simple physical separation can make an enormous difference.
5. Improved Productivity
A professional working environment can help people concentrate.
Coworking spaces are generally designed around the needs of people trying to get work done, with facilities such as:
- Proper desks
- Comfortable chairs
- Reliable internet
- Meeting rooms
- Breakout areas
- Quiet working areas
Compare that with trying to run a business from a sofa, kitchen table or spare bedroom.
The difference can be significant.
There’s also a subtle motivational advantage to working around other productive people.
When everyone around you is concentrating on their own business, it’s easier to settle into the same mindset.
For freelancers and remote workers in particular, this can provide useful structure without the restrictions of a conventional corporate office.
6. Networking Without Traditional Networking
Ask someone to attend a networking event and you may get one of two reactions.
Some people love them.
Others would rather do almost anything else.
One of the interesting advantages of coworking is that networking can happen without feeling like networking.
You’re making coffee and start talking to another member.
Someone asks what your business does.
A conversation develops.
A few weeks later, that person encounters somebody who needs exactly the service you provide.
They make an introduction.
These interactions can happen naturally because people see one another regularly.
A diverse coworking community might include:
- Designers
- Developers
- Accountants
- Consultants
- Marketing companies
- Recruitment businesses
- Financial professionals
- Property businesses
- Technology companies
One member’s customer may need another member’s services.
Over time, a workspace can develop its own small business ecosystem.
7. Better Facilities Without Owning Them
Consider how often a small business actually needs a boardroom.
Perhaps a few hours each month.
Yet a traditional office may dedicate valuable floor space to a meeting room that sits empty most of the time.
Coworking changes the economics.
Shared facilities allow multiple businesses to access better amenities without each organisation having to maintain them individually.
Depending on the workspace, these could include:
- Meeting rooms
- Presentation screens
- Video conferencing
- Breakout areas
- Kitchens
- Reception facilities
- Printing and scanning
- Event space
You gain access when you need the facility without necessarily paying to maintain it 365 days a year.
8. A Better Place to Meet Clients
A coffee shop might be fine for an informal conversation.
It’s considerably less suitable when you’re discussing:
- Confidential information
- A major proposal
- Financial matters
- Contracts
- Recruitment
- Strategic plans
Background noise and limited privacy don’t exactly create ideal meeting conditions either.
Professional meeting rooms provide a much better environment.
They also influence perception.
A client arriving at a professional workspace with reception facilities and a well-presented meeting room immediately experiences your business differently.
This can be especially valuable for freelancers and small companies competing against much larger organisations.
Your company doesn’t need to own a huge office to present itself professionally.
9. Coworking Supports Hybrid Working
The argument over whether everyone should work entirely from home or entirely from an office misses an important point.
For many businesses, the answer is somewhere in between.
Some tasks are perfectly suited to home working.
Others benefit from being together.
Teams may want office time for:
- Planning
- Creative sessions
- Training
- Client meetings
- Project launches
- Team development
- Collaborative work
Flexible workspace can support this model without requiring a company to maintain a permanent desk for every employee.
A business might therefore occupy a smaller office while using shared meeting and collaboration areas when necessary.
This can produce a better balance between flexibility and face-to-face interaction.
10. Your Workspace Can Grow With Your Business
One of the biggest problems with traditional offices is predicting the future.
How many employees will you have in two years?
Will everyone work from the office?
Will you need additional meeting rooms?
Will your business even operate in exactly the same way?
Nobody knows.
That’s why flexibility has become so valuable.
A business might begin with one founder using a hot desk.
As the company develops, that person could move to a dedicated desk.
Then perhaps:
Hot Desk → Dedicated Desk → Small Private Office → Larger Team Office
If all of those options are available within the same flexible workspace, the company can potentially grow without repeatedly changing its business address or disrupting its employees.
Why Coworking Makes Particular Sense for Small Businesses
Large companies can absorb the costs and risks associated with commercial property much more easily than small businesses.
For a company with three or four employees, however, committing significant capital to premises can restrict growth.
Coworking changes the emphasis from owning or controlling office infrastructure to simply using the workspace and facilities the business requires.
That allows management to concentrate resources on activities that actually grow the company.
Instead of asking:
“How do we run this office?”
the business can concentrate on:
“How do we win our next customer?”
What Should You Look for in a Glasgow Coworking Space?
Not all coworking environments are the same.
Before choosing one, consider the practical details rather than simply comparing the headline monthly price.
Look at:
Location: Is it convenient for your staff and customers?
Transport: Are there good road and public transport connections?
Parking: If your employees or clients drive, where will they park?
Internet: Is connectivity suitable for your business?
Meeting rooms: How many are available and what does it cost to use them?
Access: Can you use the building when your business needs it?
Privacy: Are private offices available if your requirements change?
Community: Does the environment encourage interaction between businesses?
Expansion: Could you move into a larger office without leaving the building?
Pricing: What exactly is included and which services cost extra?
A workspace tour is often the easiest way to answer these questions.
