Coworking is getting a rebrand.

No longer is it the pastime of the minority few entrepreneurs and startups who haven't yet scaled up. With the advent of hybrid working, more and more workers are looking for a "third workplace", outside of the HQ or home, to call their own; and where coffee shops and restaurants fall short, coworking has stepped in as the modern workers' space saviour.

But let's rewind for a second. What is coworking and what has it got to do with us?

Pioneered by WeWork over a decade ago (though independent coworking spaces have existed long before), coworking is an arrangement whereby multiple people from different companies, backgrounds, and professions share one office. Unlike your traditional office space which might belong to just one organisation, coworking spaces encourage mingling, skill-sharing and networking between members to provide a richer, more productive work experience. And, they tend to be far cheaper than leasing a dedicated office building.

More often than not, coworkers do not have fixed desks but instead hot-desk, meaning they might choose a different desk space everyday; a practice that injects that all-important variety into otherwise repetitive routines. As well as this, they are able to make use of typical shared facilities, like fast wifi, phone booths, printing services and tea and coffee all included within the price.

At NearU, we connect people to such spaces from the palm of their hand. Our app allows users to quickly search, book and work from a coworking or flexible desk space in their area, minimising their commute, and saving them time, money and stress.

People all around the world are being turned on to the many positive effects of coworking. At NearU, our diverse cohort of clients range from small business owners to international conglomerates, with everyone enjoying the variety that coworking offers.

“It’s changed us massively," said Cherelle Khassal when we spoke to her about how she uses our platform. "Because we go to London quite a bit, or Birmingham, and we always cram into a Starbucks or a Nando’s - being in a small coffee shop signing an NDA is just not doable. So just to be able to jump on the app and book a workspace is brilliant for us.”

We could go on (and on and on) about the many benefits of using a third workplace - but there are more important things at hand. 

With coworking still a relatively new phenomenon, not everyone is clued up on how to get the most out of this practice (or even what to do once you get to your space). But never fear, for the NearU team (and friends) are here to share our two cents when it comes to coworking - trust us, we know what we're talking about.

"Create a focus playlist and take your headphones. Often the value of going to a co-working space is for a change of scenery or to get out of the house. I find certain playlists help me to focus when I've got certain types of work done that require increased concentration without external distractions."

- James Solomides, Co-Founder and CCO at NearU.

"As soon as you get into the office, put together a timetable for the tasks that you're aiming to accomplish that day. It might feel counter-intuitive if you've got a deadline you need to hit at say 12pm, but if you just spend 10 minutes working out the structure of your day then it actually helps you work more efficiently. Also, make the most of free tea and coffee and milk."

- Gabriel Sutton, co-worker at the Moseley Exchange, Birmingham.

Introduce yourself

"Say hello to people! Easier said than done since it took me three visits to work up the courage to speak to anyone at my last space. But my experience was infinitely improved when I started chatting to other co-workers, making friends, and skill-sharing with other members of the community. In my last space I even started a club dedicated to trying and reviewing plant milks! Very dorky, but very fun."

- Holly Pittaway, Marketing Executive at NearU.

“Your first day in any new community can feel a little daunting. Just remember that coworking spaces like Colony’s are full of diverse people for you to find common ground with. A lot of them will have joined so they can meet and be around other professionals like yourself.”

- Jamie Halliday, Community Manager at Colony, Manchester.

"Make sure to check out the registration process for your chosen co-working space in advance - some will require you to be issued a keycard and complete a registration form in person. This can eat into your working day, especially if you have to wait for a staff member to become available. Where available, consider choosing a co-working space which allows you to self-register online in advance, and uses a modern smartphone-based access system, so you can just rock up whenever it suits you (even on a weekend or out-of-hours) and get straight to work."

- James Hart, Co-Founder at Purple Office, Poundbury.

"First come first serve! Early bird gets the best spot and a warm fresh coffee. Also, don't be shy! introduce yourself to others, you never know when you will find a business opportunity!"

- Rebeca Toro, Community Manager at Missionworks, Hammersmith.

"A massive tip from me would be to make sure you have all of your tech equipment. Laptop charger, phone charger, headphones etcetera. You definitely don't want your phone dying on you mid-call, and headphones can be a real life-saver if for some reason there aren't any phone booths free when you're wanting to take a Zoom call or hop on Teams. Nightmare!"

- Sophie Burton, Host Operator at NearU.