Flexible workspaces expert and founder of @WORKSPACES, Jenny Folley, explains the rise of flexible workspaces and the different options available to entrepreneurs and businesses across the globe

@WORKSPACES is the world’s leading provider of private and serviced offices and coworking spaces with sites across Australia, the Philippines and other countries.  

Businesses and workers are now moving away from old ideas of the 9-5 daily grind and looking for innovative, modern approaches to office spaces. In a post-pandemic world where it’s been shown that businesses don’t actually require large office spaces to accommodate all their workers, what flexible work options are available now? 

According to Jenny Folley, hybrid, work from home and agile working environments have driven soaring demand for flexible working spaces – but with so many different options popping up all over the country, it is hard to know where to start and which concept offers the best solution.   

Jenny Folley is the founder and CEO of @WORKSPACES, a world leading brand of premium and coworking and private office spaces.  @WORKSPACES has five-star locations in Australia: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Philippines; and more.  

“There are essentially four flexible yet professional options that businesses can now choose,” Folley said. 

“Each solution provides different benefits and advantages depending on what the business or operator is looking for.” 

• Coworking spaces

“Coworking spaces are a very popular option for a lot of people.   Coworking is an arrangement where workers from different businesses share an office space.  Essentially, the coworking space is full of desk and chair sets where people can work,” Folley explained. 

“The benefit of this is cost savings through the common usage of utilities and infrastructure and equipment, for example, reception services. Besides the benefits that businesses can enjoy, workers can also gain the benefit of broadening their professional networks through collaboration opportunities.

“Coworking spaces are economical and ideal for people who need an easy space to work from.”

• Shared offices

“A shared office is when a company that owns or manages an office space has some extra space that is not used, which can then be subleased to another business, usually a small business,” Folley added. 

“Shared offices can take different forms and enable businesses with spare capacity to generate revenue from the unused space.”  

• Hotdesking

“Hot desking is when multiple workers use the same physical work spaces but during different times, quite often on an ad hoc basis,” Folley said. 

“This really maximises space efficiency and reduces your office real estate. It’s more than just a trend. Nowadays it’s becoming a staple of modern working life because of its flexibility. Hot desks can be implemented in private offices and coworking spaces,” Folley said. 

• Private office space 

“The last option is private office spaces, which are exactly just that, office spaces that are private. They offer privacy and space which can lead to better focus and productivity,” Folley said. 

“Private office spaces are usually included in flexible office space environments like @WORKSPACES where office holders can enjoy their privacy while also benefiting from shared facilities and conveniences. 

“Private offices spaces can range in size from one person offices to 100 person offices.   The beauty of private office spaces is that you have the flexibility to scale up or down depending on the needs of the business.”

Flexibility is the way of the future

“We are now in an era of life where people prize flexibility. It’s no longer about waking up, doing your 9 to 5 and then going home, dog tired. People want to be able to fit their work around their lifestyles, not the other way around!  They value connections, networking and innovation,” Folley said. 

“Many businesses are walking away from fixed long term leases and setting up private offices in spaces like @WORKSPACES.  This enables the business to increase or reduce space as they need to enjoy the economics of shared resources.” 

@WORKSPACES offers businesses a range of office space solutions in cities around Australia. Centrally located in places that are convenient and easy access, these plush work spaces come fully equipped with the amenities that are essential to the running of every business. Also available are coworking memberships, virtual offices and meeting room hire. 

www.atworkspaces.com