Tue 16 / 06 / 20
Returning to work – open co-working spaces in Brighton
By Matilda Sjoberg of Brighton Chamber
Over the past few months, most of us have had to adapt to a new way of working --> working from home; an experience that has received mixed reviews. Some have enjoyed the flexibility and relative freedom associated with remote working life, delighted to discard their commute and fixed hours. Others have felt isolated and struggled with the lack of boundaries between work/home and are missing colleagues and office vibes.
You and your team are likely experiencing a bit of both. You may be looking for (or be desperate for!) a change of scenery but still want the option of working from home without the financial commitment of maintaining an entire office. Setting yourself up in a flexible co-working space may be the solution.
We spoke to a few Chamber members who are reopening their co-working spaces across the city. Read on to find out what’s available and what measures they’ve put in place to ensure a safe return to work.
A creative hub based in the iconic Dubarry building behind Hove station, Freedom Works are now open 24/7 again, offering a mixture of co-working and self-contained offices. They’ve introduced a brand new 'Flexible Team Pass' available for individuals and teams. Teams can purchase and share tokens (ranging from 1 - 500) to use in any of their four locations (Hove, Worthing, Gatwick, Chichester).
x1 token = x1 slot
Slots available to book: AM (8am-1pm) / PM (2pm - 6pm) / Out of Hours (7pm - 7am)
This two-minute video outlines the measures put in place at all their locations to ensure you’ll be working in a safe space.
Exclusive to Brighton Chamber members... x2 tokens for free! Email francesca@freedomworks.space to redeem.
With a cool, stylish community vibe, PLATF9RM reopened their doors at Tower Point and Hove Town Hall again on Monday 15 June. Providing spacious co-working and meeting areas, they are also offering refreshments and a virtual/hybrid events programme.
In the next month or so, the following office spaces will be available:
• 3 x 2 Person Offices (Tower Point, Brighton)
• 1 x 3 Person (Tower Point, Brighton)
• 1 x 6 Person (Tower Point, Brighton)
From September, they will have:
• 2 x 12 Sea-View (Brighton)
• 2 x 12-14 Hove View (Brighton)
In August, they will have a 10 Person office available at their Hove site.
You can read their COVID-19 comprehensive policy here.
A brand-new innovation hub located on Lewes Road, this state-of-the-art building is now open for business.
All membership packages, including resident desks and studios on a monthly rolling basis, are available. You can sign up for a virtual tour of the vibrant space here.
Here’s some information on how Plus X are ensuring you have a safe space to work.
Proud guardians of a Grade II Listed building featuring modern interiors and situated 50m from Brighton’s pebbled beach, The Projects team are now back and on hand to support members with questions and concerns about returning to work.
Currently available is a six-person and a twelve-person office. There are also a range of memberships available, from a daily pass to 24/7 access to dedicated desks which you can view in more detail here.
They're putting a range of safety measures in place to look after their members, including innovative air particle sensors that will monitor the air flow and alert them if the air quality is unsuitable. As well as providing a temperature gun for members to use, there are cleaning stations every 10 meters. A one-way system has been introduced around the building, they’ve rearranged furniture and have repurposed meeting rooms to allow social distancing. You can read more about their safety measures here.
Based on Hollingday Road, Rodhus studios provide workspace for creatives. Though communal areas remain off-limits, the self-contained units are open for people to work in. There are currently no vacant spaces - openings will be posted on their website as and when they become available.
With Stanmer Park on their doorstep up at the University of Sussex campus, the Sussex Innovation Centre is an inspiring place to be. Their buildings are now open and available to members 24/7, which includes access to their sister site in Croydon.
They have offices with capacity ranging from 1-15 people (taking social distancing measures into account) and are offering flexible terms, including free parking/EV charging/bike storage. Tenants also receive access to a range of other membership perks, from funded consultancy hours with their team to free Google Cloud, AWS and HubSpot credit worth up to $20,000.
You can read this article outlining their health and safety measures for tenants returning to the building. Click here to view their office space, to see membership options and to make an enquiry.
With several creative workspaces across Brighton and Hove, including Werks Central in the heart of The Lanes, about half of each of their buildings are now open and available for members to use. They have co-working, meeting rooms and office space available, as well as takeaway coffees!Special arrangements can be made for start-ups looking for space and support. Get in touch on info@werksgroup.org.uk to find out more.
Read about the safety measure in place here
Special arrangements can be made for start-ups looking for space and support. Get in touch on info@werksgroup.org.uk to find out more.
Read about the safety measure in place here.
Happy co-working!
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If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk