Sector spotlight: coworking spaces

• Bristol is underrepresented within the flexible workspace sector – accounting for just seven per cent across the Big Six cities (Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester).
• At the end of the first quarter of 2018, Bristol had circa 180,000 sq ft of flexible workspace in the city centre, accounting for 1.3 per cent of total built office stock. (*Statistics provided by JLL).

A skeleton hangs on the coat rack in a reception area overlooked by a couple of faux zebra heads, leading on to a visual wonderland, where a Tardis awaits use in a corner.

Welcome to the world of coworking.

DeskLodge on Temple Way may have taken things to the next level when it comes to creating a crazy playground of weird and wacky fixtures, but this vibrant space embodies a new way of working that is breaking the traditional mould.

DeskLodge on Temple Way aims to provide a space for businesses to launch and grow collaboratively

Jamie Ellis says there is now a big demand for flexible office space in Bristol

“It’s all about being friendly, flexible and label-free,” explains Jamie Ellis, operations director at DeskLodge.

“We are a bit like an incubator in the sense that we give businesses the best chance possible to launch and grow. People here just bounce off each other.”

The independent company was founded by Tom Ball in London, and he decided to open a second premises in Bristol in June 2015 because of its buzzing tech, art, creative, and collaborative scene, and strong entrepreneurial and startup presence.

“We have also seen so many individuals and companies relocating to Bristol over the last 12 months, as it has all the benefits and infrastructure of London to start, run and grow a successful business – but without as much chaos or challenges that you may find in the capital,” continues Jamie.

“There is a big demand for flexible office space in Bristol and now there are more providers and spaces opening up in Bristol – which is great. We are excited for the hub that Bristol is becoming and it’s amazing that whether you are a startup, small or medium-sized enterprise, freelancer or just want a change of scenery from the home office – you will have plenty of options to choose from.”

Just three years ago, coworking was a new concept in Bristol – but now it is taking the city by storm, with an increasing number of flexible spaces cropping up and catering for a wide variety of business needs.

Redbrick House on Wilder Street was born out of a need to create a permanent base for social enterprise Paper Arts, which supports creative young people to hone their business ideas. Revenue made through the professional workspace element are ploughed back into the not-for-profit side.

Redbrick House is open for anyone to use

Although open to anyone, the coworking hub that opened two years ago tends to attract a lot of creative individuals and has a strong ethical draw for those who want to feel their money is making a difference.

Georgie Mallabar, managing director of Paper Arts, says it is an arrangement that works well for all.

Georgia Mallabar says people in Bristol are very open to new, creative ways of working

“We try to inspire young people to turn their talent into something they can make a living from, and we have a building full of people doing just that, so it’s a great inspiration for young people,” she explains.

“We always wanted this space to be for everyone – we wanted a broad range of people. When we opened, it was a very new market in Bristol, but the city is very open to new things and to being a bit more flexible and creative.”

Georgie says that coworking spaces differ in what they offer, but key advantages are the ability to reap the benefits of working in an office – such as social interaction and networking – but with more flexibility and without having a boss breathing down your neck.

Poku Osei, of Babbasa, a youth-empowerment social enterprise based in Redbrick House

With more people flocking to join the coworking revolution, the sector is flourishing in Bristol, with more dedicated premises opening and established places, such as Engine Shed, Hamilton House and Paintworks, offering flexible working options to meet demand.

One of the latest is Runway East, a London-based company that opened its first premises outside of the capital on Victoria Street in June.

Runway East opened its first offices outside of London on Victoria Street

Explaining the decision to launch in Bristol, CEO Natasha Guerra, said: “The South West, and Bristol in particular, is a hotbed of innovation, with a number of startups growing at an extraordinary rate, and we want Runway East to contribute to the growth of the community and help provide much needed ‘scale on’ space for growing startups.”

But, is there a risk that the market will become saturated, or that the shine of paying to use vibrant, dedicated office space will fade?

Joe Edwards, founder and director of Raw Space Coworking on Gloucester Road, doesn’t think so.

“Employment is changing globally and, with the internet connecting people and companies, individuals are beginning to realise that their geographical location has much less to do with the businesses that they work for,” he says.

Joe Edwards says employment is changing globally

“And of course, self-employment is on the rise as the internet decreases the barriers to entry for starting your own business.

“Coworking spaces are becoming more popular: for us as a business this means more competition, but with a strong foundation in community we know that this differentiates us from the more corporate style space.

“Raw has a huge variety of businesses and individuals: from healthcare app startups to established commercial cleaning companies, and individuals, from tech coders to a professional masseuse.

“We find that the variety of people brings so many insights into our space, strengthening the opportunity to learn from those around you. That’s the strength of our space: we really focus on enabling community and collaboration.”

And Joe’s confidence is backed up with statistics that imply there is still plenty of room for growth in Bristol, a city that is still underrepresented in the flexible workspace sector, according to real estate specialists JLL.

Hannah Waterhouse, director in JLL’s Bristol office says: “We’re certainly seeing an increase in coworking space in the city, from small independent operators on the edge of town, to the Engine Shed shipping container extension, Box Works and, most recently, from more well established national and international operators.

“The flexibility of coworking space comes at a cost, but one that many small businesses and startups are willing to pay.”

While direct price comparison between coworking and more traditional space is difficult, JLL estimates that coworking space costs somewhere between £300 and £450 per person per month in Bristol, compared to an average monthly fee for of around £285 per person for conventional offices.

Hannah continues: “It’s certainly a growing sector and there is currently very strong demand. But only time will tell whether it is here to stay. Anecdotal comments from businesses operating out of the ‘We Work’ sites in London show the challenges – physical and psychological – of working in what feels like a café and without a space to call your own.”

A word with the coworkers:

Beth Doherty, a digital marketer for web design agency Media Street, works at one of the many hot desks at DeskLodge.

Beth Doherty says the social element is a big positive in coworking spaces

“Our HQ is in Devon, but there were two of us in Bristol and our boss did not want us to feel like we were by ourselves – it works really well, I am never lonely or bored because there are always people around me. I’ve been here for two and a half years and I’ve loved every second.

“The social side is great – you meet people you can network with and everyone just helps each other out. I like the fact it’s so friendly, it’s not corporate at all.”

Abbie Loadman, is one of the six-strong team at Support Partners, a creative technology company with offices in London, New York and Bristol. She works within a dedicated office at DeskLodge.

Abbie Loadman says the opportunity to network locally is a key plus

“It feels different to more traditional offices, which is one of the key reasons we moved here,” she says. “There are only six of us, so it’s nice to be part of a bigger environment where there is more going on.

“Our company is spread across the globe so it’s nice to be able to network locally, rather than being shut away behind a closed door.”

Read more: Sector spotlight: Paintworks