There are 4.6m self-employed people in the UK – the highest level since records began nearly 40 years ago, according to 2014 figures from the Office of National Statistics. But the growth in shared workspaces means we can now go out to work again. This time, not in the local coffee shop but in fully equipped offices with super-fast broadband, printers, kitchens and, above all else, co-workers.
Since I went freelance 15 years ago, I’ve been the envy of friends who think that working from home equals endless free/me time when it’s more often a question of free me. Free me, please, from scruff pants all day every day, from lengthy conversations with my cat and from the endless distractions that flatten my productivity.
If like me you’re ready to get back into a more professional environment, join an office hub. They’re everywhere, and most offer a free trial so you can try before you buy.
Second Home, London
Second Home describes itself as a home from home. All I can say is, if only. If my home looked something, anything like this, I’d never want to leave it. In fact, one of Second Home’s other assertions – “There’s nowhere like it anywhere in the world” – is closer to the truth, because the space that architects SelgasCano (José Selgas and Lucía Cano) have created is nothing short of perfection.
Inside this former carpet factory off Brick Lane you’ll find a roaming zone, a hanging garden, a restaurant run by ex-Ottolenghi and Morito chefs, an auditorium where leading everybodies (scientists, creatives, business people) give lectures, and much more.
Monthly packages from £350 to £600. Visit Second Home
The Impact Hub, London, Birmingham and worldwide
Impact Hub at King’s Cross, London
The Impact Hub operates in 49 countries and has 68 hubs and 11,000 members worldwide. It has five UK offices (four in London and one in Birmingham) and, perhaps because of its reach, it’s doing a good job of partnering with other businesses to offer members discounts on services and products.
A year’s free business account with Zip Cars and 15 per cent off at Moo printing were among July’s offers. There’s also a packed training and events programme, from experts talking about start-ups to weekly mindfulness sessions.
Monthly packages from £10 to £290. Visit The Impact Hub
The Skiff, Brighton
The Skiff has five headline values – community, collaboration, openness, sustainability and accessibility – and puts great emphasis on camaraderie, which is why it refers to members as mates.
It seems quite prescriptive in who its best mates are; namely, people who can adhere to its five Ps: produce, pay, participate, play nice and party. In essence it’s for those who want to co-work and who are interested in building successful and enduring relationships with others, rather than wanting to milk the community for contacts before bailing out.
Day pass £24 plus VAT. Monthly packages from £49 to £299 plus VAT. Visit The Skiff
The Melting Pot, Edinburgh
The Melting Pot was founded by Claire Carpenter in 2007, initially to nurture social innovators. Though the societal element remains strong, it has grown beyond that and members now include artists, writers, architects and managers. What Carpenter most wants is to “bring together interesting people doing amazing things” and to help them help each other.
What the new workplace looks like
In addition to the standard facilities, such as WiFi and professional development and networking events, there are several optional add-ons, including a personal landline, business address and postal collection point and secure, private storage (all included in the unlimited package).It’s currently having a big refurbishment and will be open again from Monday 3 August.
Half-day pass £15; full day pass £30. Monthly packages from £10 to £348. Visit The Melting Pot
The Guild, Bath
One of the meeting rooms at The Guild, Bath. Photo by Close Range Films
The Guild, located in a Grade I building in the heart of Bath, opened in 2013 and attracts people working in creative or tech-based industries. There’s superfast Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen with tea and coffee on tap, showers, private meeting and phone rooms, and 24-hour access.
It also holds some excellent events, including training seminars and hosted networking coffee mornings. Members are delirious about it and who can blame them: it’s a beautiful, well-run place to work.
Day pass £20. Monthly packages from £49 to £299. Visit The Guild
Cambridge Business Lounge, Cambridge
Meeting other freelancers and small business owners sure beats working at home and talking to the cat
CBL is “designed to fit around the needs of a small business,” says managing director Ed Goodman, so as well as providing a professional working space where people can hotdesk or work with other businesses, it also offers business support, including invoicing and virtual assistant services, and an interactive training centre.
One of the best things about CBL is its complete flexibility. You don’t even have to become a member: you can drop in for an hour, a day or a week. As Goodman says, “turn up, book online, or phone”.
Day pass £20. Monthly packages from £60 to £260. Visit Cambridge Business Lounge