Co-working spaces have become the next best thing in commercial office space
Co-working spaces have become the next best thing in commercial office space in Singapore. For one, in many cases, they provide the professional with an office that is centrally located and in some of the most affluent business districts. Furthermore, the co-working space is one of the most cost-effective ways to lease space today.
Co-working simply works by allowing businesses to lease the use of space instead of an entire office. In a typical co-working space plan, renters lease the use of a hot or dedicated desk, in addition to any IT services and office equipment. However, the benefits of adopting a co-working plan are more than related to the immediate ones of renting cheap space. Instead, renters benefit from the many connections they make to the greater business community.
Let’s take a look at how co-working spaces can facilitate connections with the local business community.
Networking
The co-working space, by virtue of its office plan, primes the pump of socializing. Many offices place professionals right next to each other, so eventually, people engage with each other, especially if you are seated at a hot desk. Whether it is asking to borrow a pen or sharing industry talk, people end up in various conversations. These informal conversations are a part of the foundation that introduces professionals to the business community. Servcorp co-working, for example, is the typical office setup you might see.
However, there are also formal networking opportunities as well. Because co-working spaces place a lot of emphasis on the social aspect of business, they often times sponsor networking events that facilitate introductions into the business community at-large. For the most part, professionals have many opportunities to connect with mentors, experts, and professional in the larger business community.
Collaboration
Another great advantage of using the co-working space is that it affords professionals with a number of opportunities to collaborate with others. Because many co-working spaces are not industry-specific, you might work in a room with professionals from a diverse array of industries. With networking as your platform, the collaboration is soon to follow. Furthermore, because collaboration is at the core of the co-working space, many offices spend time facilitating this particular aspect of the co-working space.
Community
The greatest benefit to professionals is that co-working spaces almost form their own communities, again providing professionals with a foundation to connect to other communities. Many of these communities focus on the whole idea of a non-competitive environment where professionals are encouraged to work together. Many co-working spaces also place emphasis on trying to build a cohesiveness through both formal and informal social events. In Singapore, where relationships are integral to business, the co-working space can be a place to connect to the community.
While many outfits have open access policies, those with specific missions, whether professional or ideological, provide professionals with the same access to people and services in the outer community. For example, a co-working space that focuses on sustainable industries will often connect professionals and businesses to the clean industry within the local community. Many co-working spaces pay a lot of attention in supporting start-ups, and so these offices play a role in connecting these fledgling businesses to the larger community.
A Place At The Table Of The Business Community
Ultimately, the co-working space is a community in and of itself, which makes it easier for them to facilitate these types of relations. Because the members of co-working spaces make up the local community, the many networking and collaboration opportunities that arise are the direct result of the business relationships that are formed while at work.
Regardless of the industry or profession, businesses can use the space to get to who makes up the community, to find resources and funding, to find mentors and to create an extended network of business relationships.
