The development of cloud computing (where shared resources, information and software can be accessed via the internet on demand) has helped the ‘free agent economy’ to thrive in last few years. The ability to deliver assets, shared information, and collaborate on projects in the cloud has given independent workers more freedom to choose where they work. As a result, home working has become more and more popular.
On the upside, working from home allows you greater personal flexibility, and frees you from commuting. The downside is that, isolated from your compatriots, it can be hard to keep motivated and develop new ideas. To counter this, you might regularly decamp to a coffee shop to work via their wi-fi connection. You might have a brief chat with the Barista, but mostly you’ll have your head down, and earphones on. By the time you leave, rather than feeling inspired by the contacts you’ve made, you’ll be feeling a little edgy from too much coffee. If that is the case, it might be the time to think about finding a co-working space.
So what is co-working? Coworking is something that started in the States, primarily amongst the tech community. Coworking is a community of people who are sharing common space & resources for the purpose of getting inspired and getting stuff done. It’s ideal way for solo entrepreneurs and start-up companies to access a network of like-minded folk for support, ideas and contacts. A diverse range of co-working spaces are springing up across the UK, and this demand reflects the changing culture of work. Coworking works well not just for home-workers, but also for independent workers, and those that travel frequently.
The words of Seth Godin, ‘When you need to have a meeting, have a meeting. When you need to collaborate, collaborate. The rest of the time, do the work, wherever you like.’ In the modern world, you can be free to choose where and how you work.
Virtual assistants are the foot-soliders in this co-working revolution. Not only, do you not need to be tied to a regular office desk, but the administrative support that you need to help you do your thing does not need to be either. Virtual assistants can provide flexible, seamless, professional support services via a range of web-based tools.
Here at Ministry of Time, we fervently believe that co-working is a trend that is here to stay. That’s why we are so excited to be working with the Tech Hub. Based in Shoreditch, Tech Hub is a new and exciting project creating a physical space in London for tech companies not just based nearby but entrepreneurs and others in the tech industry from across the UK, Europe, the US and beyond.
If you are a member of the Tech Hub and you need some administrative or project support, you’ll benefit from a members discount. Come and see Sinead from Ministry of Time at Tech Hub from next week.
