Co-working spaces are becoming increasingly popular in today’s world. They can now be found in every major city in the world, attracting freelancers, entrepreneurs and traveling workers who are looking for new opportunities beyond their own four walls or need a reliable and well-equipped “office” on the go.
The concept of co-working spaces is not new. The first co-working space opened in Amsterdam in the 1980s. However, the idea of a co-working space was not very popular until a few years ago. It wasn’t until 2009 that the concept really took off.
In a co-working space, people who don’t necessarily work in the same company work together in an office space where they can rent a desk or niche. The target audience here is freelancers, entrepreneurs, telecommuters and many other groups of business people. Some of these co-working spaces also cater specifically to creative professionals such as designers, writers and artists, for example, and offer appropriate equipment and working environments.
Co-working spaces are a wonderful opportunity to fulfill our desire for free and mobile work, as they are designed to help entrepreneurs achieve this type of work life. However, they are also great for people working remotely, as they encourage collaboration between those present, even as they are complete strangers to each other.
The Rise of Co-Working Spaces
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Co-working spaces, as touched on earlier, first became popular in 2009. At that time, a co-working space called “Grind” opened in San Francisco. It was soon followed by other co-working spaces around the world. In 2010, The Hub opened in England. Then followed The Mill in London. By 2015, you could find collaborative offices and workspaces all over the world.
The benefits of this are undeniable: Co-working spaces are ideal for freelancers and entrepreneurs. They offer them a place to work and network. But they also help them be closer to their clients without crowding them out.
But they are also perfect for local businesses. Co-working spaces help boost the local economy by attracting new businesses to the area and, of course, these mobile workers spend money back in the local economy.
Even though the pandemic has somewhat decelerated the growth of co-working spaces, the model remains forward-looking. The desire for a mobile, local work option is not going away, and co-working spaces will find more ways to best serve the needs of today’s workforce in the near future.
