Can’t Find Meeting Rooms? We got you!

Date: Tue Sep 20 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

Isn’t it annoying when you can’t find a meeting room? Or worse, you get kicked out without finishing your meeting because you could only book it for one hour when you needed two!

This is a common problem with many business entities today. Traditional offices simply do not have enough meeting rooms available to accommodate everyone that’s having a meeting.

And everyone’s having a meeting.

This issue is exacerbated now that businesses have downsized to smaller offices or moved into coworking spaces. A coworking space may give you access to more meeting rooms, but there are also more companies having meetings.

Having spoken with multiple CXO/Facility Managers looking into office closures and downsizing, there are genuine concerns that employees, managers and executives will not have access to rooms where they can conduct client, team and project meetings.

Fortunately, there are solutions.

Virtual Meetings

Companies that have adopted the hybrid working model or work remotely full-time, can take advantage of technology to hold virtual meetings. You don’t have to book a meeting room when all the participants are connecting from the comfort of their own homes.

Virtual meetings are also cost-effective and reduce your carbon footprint – and thus contribute to a healthier ESG rating. You can also record virtual meetings which can save time typing up the minutes of the meeting.

However, virtual meetings also have a downside. A common problem is that poor internet connections are disruptive. When the connection keeps breaking up, people miss what you’ve said and you have to repeat yourself. This prolongs the meeting and you’re tight on time as it is.

The much-talked-about “Zoom fatigue” is also a factor. Virtual meetings are not as productive as in-person meetings and remote workers often get ignored. Because you’re not all in the same room, the energy and dynamic are diluted.

Not only that, but researchers at Stanford University found that in-person meetings are more satisfying, psychologically and emotionally. Participants are also more focused and creative during face-to-face meetings. In virtual meetings, we zone out.

Access Multiple Meeting Rooms With BluDesks

Whilst virtual meetings are fine for short check-in meetings when you need to get into the nitty-gritty of a subject matter, in-person meetings are the best option.

If you can’t find a meeting room in your office building, look for vacant meeting rooms elsewhere. Ordinarily, that would be impossible, but with a BluDesks membership, you have a simple and effective solution at your fingertips.

BluDesks gives you access to multiple meeting rooms close to where you live. Meeting rooms are available at an hourly rate. There are no fixed fees or monthly subscription payments, and therefore, no risk of paying for space when you’re not using it (unless you cancel the meeting within less than 24 hours of your scheduled booking).

There are plentiful meeting rooms available through BluDesks. You will find appropriate meeting rooms in various sizes, fitted with multiple plug sockets, TV/audio equipment and refreshments available on request.

Can’t find a meeting room. Join BluDesks today and access multiple meeting rooms whenever you need one.

5 Benefits of Satellite Coworking Spaces

Date: Mon Sep 12 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

Now that more companies are pivoting to a hybrid model, employers and employees are turning to coworking spaces that provide amenities and facilities you would expect from a fully-functional office.

Another trend we’re seeing is that companies are taking advantage of the benefits of Satellite coworking spaces. This makes a lot of sense for a lot of employees.

Rather than simply relocating your office from a traditional rented space and moving into a coworking office in a central location, utilising coworking spaces as satellite offices gives your staff more convenience and flexibility.

Avoiding Long Commutes

A Flexjobs survey revealed that 65% of UK employees sent home to work remotely during the pandemic do not want to return to the office. Avoiding the commute was cited as the leading reason.

Satellite offices mean your employees have a shorter commute. That means they save time and money, but not only that, sitting in traffic jams can be frustrating for some people, especially when they’re busy or just want to get home.

Avoiding long commutes improves the mental health of your employees – both in the workplace and at home with their families. When people are less stressed and frustrated, they have more energy and a better frame of mind to focus on their job.

Lower Carbon Footprint of Your Business

Shorter commutes also mean your employees – and thus your business as a whole – uses less fuel. This lowers your carbon footprint which translates into a higher ESG rating (Environment, Sustainability and Governance).

Access Multiple Meeting Rooms

Some days, finding a meeting room can be a real pain. What’s more, if you’re on a fixed-term contract in a coworking space that includes meeting rooms, you’re paying for office space that you’re not always using. That’s money you could be putting to good use.

BluDesks solve two problems. We provide coworking space that you rent by the hour. You simply block out the time and pay for the appropriate hourly rate. So that saves you money.

In addition, we provide access to multiple coworking spaces, you have multiple options to find an appropriate meeting room that fulfils your needs – even for impromptu, last-minute meetings.

Help To Improve Employee Wellbeing

Another key insight to come out of the draconian lockdowns was how employees felt isolated and lonely. The fact of the matter is that some people (extroverts) need to be around their colleagues for company. It’s not a coincidence that anxiety and depression cases went up during the pandemic.

Satellite offices help to nurture the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of employees. Simply being around other people and interacting with colleagues helps to improve mood and establish a bond.

Supports Culture, Collaboration and Cohesion of Teams

Satellite offices make it easier for colleagues that live in the same part of the city to congregate in an office that is conveniently situated closer to their home. By adopting dedicated coworking spaces as satellite offices, you can maintain your company culture and facilitate collaboration and cohesion.

Why Coworking Space Should Be Included In Your Annual Operating Plan

Date: Mon Sep 5 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

It looks increasingly likely that UK business owners will be searching for cost-effective solutions to include in their Annual Operating Plan (AOP) this winter. According to the Bank of England, the UK is heading for a recession.

England’s central bank has revealed that the 13% surge in energy prices will bring the average household energy bill in the UK up to £3500 this year. The increase in living costs will prompt consumers to curb their spending.

A decline in spending is not good news for business owners that are already feeling the pinch from hefty office leases, an increase in cost for raw materials and higher utility bills.

One solution to significantly cut your operating costs is to let go of the expensive office lease and take advantage of cost-effective coworking spaces.

However, entering a long-term contract with a coworking space that only offers fixed monthly payments may not necessarily enable you to free up cash flow either.

Why PAYG Coworking Spaces Provide Cost-Effective Solutions

Having spoken with multiple business owners in London that have adopted a hybrid model, it’s apparent that many companies are holding on to office space they are not using.

According to a survey conducted by Consultancy Advanced Workplace Associates, UK employees spend an average of 1.5 days in the office a week. 13% of workers only call in on Fridays.

This is money down the drain that could be put to better use.

The smart solution is to take advantage of coworking spaces that offer a Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) program. With BluDesks, you can book private offices and meeting rooms by the hour – so you only pay for the space you use when you need it.

PAYG coworking spaces help to alleviate the financial burden and plan your operating costs by enabling you to manage your budget closely. You also get access to amenities and facilities you would expect from a fully-functioning office.

Coworking spaces also eliminate utility bills. And the rising costs of energy will suck up even more revenue from small businesses in the foreseeable future. It’s barely worth turning the heating on if there’s hardly anybody using the office.

Flexible Office Spent You Can Rent By The Hour

With more UK firms switching to a hybrid model, access to coworking spaces makes sense. Not only from a financial point of view but also to give your employees more flexibility.

Remote workers will occasionally need access to office facilities such as a photocopier or scanner. Rather than making the hour-long commute to your central office, they could book a desk for an hour in a coworking office 19 minutes from their home.

Not only are PAYG coworking spaces less costly, but they are also more convenient. And BluDesks go one step further by providing access to hundreds of coworking spaces from a central portal.

With a single membership, you can book private offices and meeting rooms by the hour anywhere in the UK. For businesses that need to cut costs, BluDesks could provide a solution that helps you to navigate the recession.

Paying For Office Space You’re Not Using? Save Money On Coworking Space

Date: Mon Aug 15 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

The advancement of telecom technologies has made it possible to enable working from home and empower employees. In the post-pandemic era, the majority of employees don’t want to return to the office.

However, a large percentage of executives feel working in an office environment is invaluable. A raft of CEOs heading high-profile brands has publicly aired their opinions about the downside of remote working.

Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England chief, for example, called for more staff to return to the office to train new employees. Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon has labelled remote working an “aberration” and law firms are threatening to shave salaries by 20% to deter employees from working from home.

As a result, some companies are persisting with expensive office rentals in central locations. In the current climate, an increase in expenses will quickly erode company budgets and the purchasing power of your employees.

For firms operating out of central London, continuing to run your business from a Grade A office rental could stunt your growth. Rental prices in the West End average a jaw-dropping £117.50 per square metre – up from around £90 per square metre in Q3 of 2021.

Furthermore, if your offices are based on a commuter belt, the cost of fuel feels like a waste when you’re sitting in traffic. Frustration builds up stress which, in turn, impairs cognitive health and performance.

Hiring coworking spaces resolves all of these problems. Your teams can work together on projects without you bursting your budget, and with office space all over the UK at your fingertips, you have instant access to a whole host of conveniently located coworking spaces with a single login.

Cost-Effective Office Solutions

Switching from rented offices to coworking spaces enables companies to significantly reduce overhead. Rental costs are lower and you probably won’t pay as much on utilities because the bills are shared.

Moving forward there are minimal overheads. Coworking spaces are well-equipped with all the furniture and amenities including photocopiers, scanners, projectors and TV/audio equipment.

If you want to create a hub-and-spoke model, you can use coworking spaces to establish satellite offices – but without the cost of renting an entire office. With BluDesks, you book and pay by the hour – so there is no risk of paying for space you’re not using.

Coworking Satellite Offices

Signing up for a BluDesks membership takes coworking to another level by giving you more options to rent office space and meeting rooms wherever you prefer, whenever you want.

BluDesks hosts coworking spaces in multiple locations in the city you live. This gives employees more opportunities to work together in locations that are conveniently situated close to their homes.

You also have access to hundreds of meeting rooms, so if you need to book meeting rooms on an ad-hoc basis and need to find somewhere quickly, BluDesks reduced the time it takes to find a suitable location.

Alternatively, you can book in “de-facto” private offices by renting meeting rooms for 1 or 2 days per week at times that you dictate.

Coworking Spaces Could Help The Wage Increments Challenge

Date: Tue Jul 5 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

As employees feel the pinch of inflation, CXO’s and HR managers may face several difficult conversations in the coming weeks. Trading rented office space for flexible coworking facilities can help to free up cash and keep your workers happy.

An increase in living costs, sky-rocketing fuel and energy prices together with tax hikes has devastated the income of families all over the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that 9 in 10 adults say their living costs have increased whilst 23% report they are struggling to pay typical household bills.

Low-income families naturally spend a larger proportion of their earnings on food and energy. Living costs have leapt by 9% whilst wage increases averaged 4.1% – less than half the rate of inflation.

Business leaders are bracing themselves for an influx of employees asking for pay rises or other types of benefits. But with a potential dip in revenue, making ends meet and keeping your employees happy may require decisive action.

To cut costs.

Coworking Spaces Cut Costs

Bloomberg reports that one in five UK workers expect to leave their job in the next year in search of better pay and more job satisfaction. Replacing employees is more costly for businesses that retain a trained and experienced member of their workforce.

It is estimated that the cost of replacing employees is between 6-9 months of the employee’s annual salary. That takes into account the loss of productivity, training expenses and the cost of recruitment.

A key part of retaining your best employees is how well you compensate them. Depending on their age, some employees will look for other opportunities if they do not feel respected or if they’re not permitted to work from home.

The ONS reports that 80% of UK workers would prefer their employer to adopt a hybrid model. This gives them the opportunity to work from home for part of the week and in the office for part of the week.

Hybrid working fulfils the needs of employees and has numerous benefits for employers also. In fact, it ticks so many boxes that the hybrid model is expected to be adopted by 84% of UK firms.

Rent Coworking Spaces with BluDesks

Renting coworking space with BluDesks gives you the flexibility to facilitate a hybrid working model and significantly cut the cost associated with renting office space.

With a single login, you have access to hundreds of coworking spaces in London and all over the country. Actually the world. Moreover, our pay-as-you-go model means you only pay for the space you use – enabling you to manage your costs. For example, if you only need a meeting room for one hour, you only pay for the hour.

The coworking spaces available give your teams more flexibility to work where they want and save money on travel and food. Whilst these costs savings may still need to be supplemented with wage increments, BluDesks provide you with a solution that enables you to reinvigorate your financial resources and keep your employees happy.

Coworking Spaces: Convenient Solutions For Regional Sales Teams

Date: Mon Jun 6 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

As the business world pivots to remote working en masse, corporations and other larger companies are taking advantage of the benefits offered by coworking spaces.

Businesses rent their main office but deploy regional sales teams that can also benefit from coworking spaces. With multiple offices and meeting rooms to rent all over the UK, remote sales reps have a convenient solution to support their productivity and professionalism.

Coworking spaces provide staff on go with office facilities and a working environment that enables them to focus. Sales personnel that come into the offices at BluDesks comment that it’s a far better option than the distractions of working in noisy coffee shops.

But coworking spaces at BluDesks offer sales teams much more than an office environment. We have a network of coworking spaces and meeting rooms all over the world – which you can access with a single Membership and log in.

Use Convenient Coworking Space as a Base

Research has shown that employees are more productive when they work in familiar surroundings. New places mean the brain is taking in more information which can affect cognitive function and concentration.

This means that when sales personnel working from a variety of coffee shops or in their car, their brain is working over time processing large volumes of data.

Flexible coworking spaces give regional sales staff the opportunity to have access to office space that is situated in a convenient location. Regularly using coworking space as base becomes a familiar work environment. It also gives sales reps the opportunity to build relationships with other regular coworking spaces users and expand their network of clients and influencers.

Cost-Effective Coworking Spaces

The BluDesks model goes one step further than the majority of conventional coworking spaces. Rather than tying you into fixed fees, daily, weekly or monthly, we charge by the hour.

This gives regional sales reps a cost-effective solution and the opportunity to be flexible. For example, if you are on the road from 11 am to 4 pm, you can book a hot desk or private office from 9.30 am to 10.30 and 4.30 until whenever in order to plan your day and get on top of your paperwork. You could even rent a desk for an hour between meetings.

We also give you access to thousands of meeting rooms all over the UK – so you can meet with clients in a professional environment that is convenient for everyone to reach.

Improve Talent Acquisition & Retention

Recruiters tell us that younger workers are more willing and more likely to commit to companies that provide flexibility, less commuting and a well-designed office.

BluDesks fulfil all three of these needs – although we can’t always promise the most impressive office designs. What we do promise, however, flexible and convenient solutions that enable sales teams to travel less – which means using less fuel and being more productive. Less commuting also helps to improve your ESG score.

4 Reasons Why Relocating Businesses Need Ad-Hoc Meeting Rooms

Date: Thu May 12 Author: Chelliah Nakeeran

Pivoting to the hybrid model seems to be the latest buzzword or business trend. But businesses that are renovating or relocating to new offices also face the challenges involved with remote working.

A distributed workforce during office renovations and relocations can be difficult to manage. Although the workplace is on hold, work is not. Managers and staff still need to hold meetings, engage in discussions, brainstorm and pep talks.

Hiring external meeting rooms on an ad-hoc basis can help you to move your business forward efficiently. It gives you valuable space to be creative, productive and inspired.

Moreover, with BluDesks pay-as-you-go model, renting meeting rooms is affordable, easy to manage and convenient. We also have flexible short-term offices which you can book as and when you need it, for one week, one month, three hours or three months. You choose when you need space and only pay for the time you book the space for.

Here are four reasons ad-hoc meeting rooms benefit a business that temporarily does not have access to office space.

Increase Productivity

A 2017 Stanford study confirmed that individuals are more productive when they work collectively. Even the perception of working as part of a team can improve performance levels.

Whilst technology can help bring a remote workforce together, individuals that are not accustomed to remote working need reminding they are part of a physical team.

Productivity can be enhanced when your team also know they have a limited window of time to reach a goal. Time-sensitive ad-hoc meeting rooms can help to supercharge productivity by increasing concentration levels whilst giving team members an ideal space to collaborate.

Meet With Clients and Partners

Coffee shops and restaurants are not always the best places to meet with clients to discuss serious business. Large firms trying to broker a deal with an important client or develop a project with a partner need a quiet space where you can hold a meeting in private.

Fully-Equipped Meeting Rooms

Meeting rooms can be used for several different reasons. Maybe you need space to give a presentation or a training session. A team of collaborators may need a whiteboard or overhead projectors to help share their vision with other team members.

BluDesks have a wide selection of fully-equipped ad hoc meeting rooms to choose from. With co-working spaces all over the city, you have the option to choose meeting rooms of various sizes that have the equipment you require such as AV facilities, wide-screen TVs, a variety of plug sockets and Wi-Fi.

Saves Time

The BluDesks model is designed for your convenience. We host a large number of co-working spaces on our website so that you can find the most suitable meeting room for your needs.

With a single login, you have access to ad hoc meeting rooms all over the city in which you live – and in multiple locations around the world. With this many meeting rooms at your fingertips, you won’t waste so much time skipping from one coworking space provider to the next.

To take advantage of the benefits are pay-as-you-go meeting rooms offer, sign up for a BluDesks Membership today.