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What's the difference between Co-working and Virtual office space?

Posted by Oliver Corrigan on Nov 10, 2014 8:30:00 AM
Oliver Corrigan
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Co-working, virtual office space, shared offices, they all give workers who work independently from a ‘traditional’ office the chance to reap the benefits of working alongside other people in a flexible and modern way.

 

So they’re all the same, right?

Wrong!

 

Well semi-wrong anyway. Whilst modern working environments such as co-working spaces, shared offices and virtual office space collectively provide independent workers with the chance to network and bypass tiresome office commutes, there are some fundamental differences between them.

As we wrote in an earlier blog, 90% of UK professionals now believe flexible working is the way forward and choosing when and where you work is rapidly snowballing in the UK.

If you are keen to jump onto the shared office working environment but are unsure which option of office to go for, take a look at the differences between co-working spaces and virtual offices.

 

 

Co-working spaces

Co-working spaces are essentially shared office environments in which the individuals who use them are not usually part of the same organisation and work independently.

What do co-working spaces include?

A well-equipped co-working space will include all the essential office equipment, including:

  • Wireless internet access
  • Scanners
  • Printers
  • Fax machines
  • A co-working space will have the vital office furniture such as chairs and tables, meaning you simply bring your own device and you’re ready to start working.

The better the co-working space is the higher quality and more comfortable the furniture is likely to be. Carrwood Park’s co-working facilities, for example, include British designer leather furniture for a real luxury working environment.

Other features which are often at workers’ disposal in a co-working space are:

  • Tea, coffee, water and even kitchen facilities so you can brew up and prepare food at your leisure.
  • Temperature control meaning the working space doesn’t get too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
  • Many co-working centres which are located on the outskirts of a city, such as Carrwood Park, will have free on-site parking.

Meeting spaces

Many larger co-working centres will have presentation and conference facilities available. Having access to a meeting room and presentation facilities can be crucial for giving independent workers and organisations a truly professional edge by enabling them to meet existing or potential clients and interview employees in a professional space.

Who uses co-working spaces?

As the opportunities for networking, collaborating and mentoring with other professionals in co-working centres are prolific, they are popular amongst freelancers and start-ups who want to secure more business and help their business grow.

Being equipped with meeting room access, co-working spaces are also suitable for SMEs who want to work in a professional environment but without the hefty overheads of a traditional office lease.

They are especially popular amongst independent tech and digital workers, who require reliable and fast Wi-Fi and benefit from a ‘buzzing’ working environment.

 

 

Download our Ultimate Guide to Co-working

 

Virtual office space

A virtual office in leeds is the perfect way for a company to invest in their image or brand and consequently increase their visibility and credibility without having to make a heavy investment on office leases.

What do virtual offices include?

Virtual offices provide most of the same benefits of having a traditional office, including:

  • A receptionist
  • A call handling service with mail forwarding
  • A lucrative business address
  • Parcel handling service

Virtual offices typically come in different packages. For example, Carrwood Park offers four different types of virtual office packages.

The first is the DDi Number package which provides a business with a landline which can either be forwarded to a mobile phone or to a personalised voicemail.

The second option is the Registered Address package which offers a professional business address with mail collection, which receives company mail and forwards it on. Having a professional business address in a lucrative location can have a significant impact on how others perceive an individual professional or a company, which can make the difference between securing contracts and not.

Then there is the Reception Answering option in which a company’s calls are received by a front of house receptionist who then forwards the messages to appropriate individual.

Many virtual offices offer all the mentioned services in one package. For example, Carrwood’s fourth virtual office package gives individuals and organisations the change to work from home or independent of a traditional office but still reap the benefits of having a full virtual office package.

Who uses virtual offices?

Virtual offices are most suitable for small businesses and start-ups which seek a virtual space and the benefits of a conventional office but are not yet ready to move out of a home office, or take on the financial burden of a traditional office lease.

Virtual office users often use virtual office in the initial stage of their development until they are sufficiently big enough or have the financial means to take on ‘actual’ office space.

In short, having a glamorous business address on a business card can go a long way increasing a start-up’s or SME’s credibility.

 

 

Click here to see our virtual office packages

 

 

Whether you opt to work from a co-working space or a decide a virtual office would be more beneficial to your own personal circumstances, these flexible working platforms provide professionals and businesses with a cost-effective, professional and modern way to develop business and nurture company growth.

For more information on hiring quality and well-equipped co-working and virtual office space in Leeds, get in touch with Carrwood Park.

Topics: self-employed, Co-working and Flexible Working, Start-Up, SME, business

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