How important's natural daylight?

A recent BBC report on a new innovation in classroom lighting suggests that lighting can have a huge impact on everything from our mood to our levels of concentration whilst studying or working.  (Thanks to Anna Dorward for highlighting the article to us)

That set us thinking about your preferences when you're looking for space for occasional hire - for working, meetings, or running/attending training courses.

Have you ever hired a space that has no natural daylight, and would you do so again? 


Please complete our one-click poll  - it's located at the top right of this Blog.  We'd also love to read your thoughts and comments too.


THANKS in advance for your views - we'll be passing the results onto venues across the North East that are aiming to provide you the perfect place for occasional workspace and meetings.

Space on Tap's opening doors so local businesses can share resources

Space on Tap's Open Door service provides a unique way for local businesses to network and share resources.

Through our research we know that there are lots of homeworkers and people who work on a remote basis that would love to have access to a local office or meeting space that's available on tap - to hire literally by the hour, whenever they need it.  Space on Tap's Open Door service does what it says on the tin!  We're opening the doors of companies across the region that have spare space, but that until now had no way to hire it out to local business people.

Through the Open Door service Space on Tap is able to feature private business space that wasn't previously available for hire in its Perfect Places Directory at www.spaceontap.com, alongside other commercially available space (in a whole host of places from business centres to cinemas).  Registered Users of Space on Tap can not only view the available space, but also check availability, book and pay for it online, 24/7, making it a highly accessible service.

As well as providing access to local space, the Open Door service is also a great vehicle for business networking - both the host company and the person using the space benefit from a heightened profile and new contacts - that's what we call a 'win win'!

Spaces currently available through Space on Tap's Open Door service include:

Carrotmedia, NEWCASTLE    
Deskspace with fast broadband and river view £5 p/hr

Innov8 Disposal, STOCKTON
Meeting room for 6 people or occasional office space with wifi £12 p/hr

Red Maple IT, GATESHEAD
Meeting room up to 8 with wifi, £10 p/hr

Kinsey Jones Accountants, GOSFORTH
Meeting room or office for up to 4 with wifi £8.50 p/hr

Curtis Office Supplies, DARLINGTON
Meeting room for up to 10 people £12 p/hr

Saville Clinic, NEWCASTLE
City-centre office with wifi for hire by the hour £8.50 p/hr

Meldrum Construction Services, BIRTLEY
Meeting/training space close to A1 £9 p/hr


If you'd like to know more about Space on Tap's unique Open Door service, or to find out more about any of the spaces we feature in our Perfect Places Directory, just leave a comment below or email us today at opendoors@spaceontap.com

Space of the Week

Our Space of the Week this week is …  

MEETING ROOM IDEAL FOR PRIVATE COACHING, CONSULTATIONS, MEETINGS OR THERAPY, with WIFI & refreshments on tap,

at Rumana Health in Fenham, a stone’s throw from Newcastle city centre, with free parking.

* Hire for only £5.50 p/hour during APRIL *

Meeting space for 2 - therapy bed also available on request

A tranquil, peaceful space with an abundance of natural light, this is the perfect place for one to one meetings for business or relating to personal health.  It's ideal for coaching sessions, therapy or consultations, or just a bit of clear thinking away from the usual distractions of the office. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE …

Space on Tap's Culture for Success

We've been getting some great feedback from our customers - businesses that have space (that we're helping people to find through www.spaceontap.com), as well as homeworkers, freelancers and people who are looking for their perfect places across the region.  

Prompted by our customers, Space on Tap recently entered the Culture for Success Awards 2011, and we're delighted that we've now been shortlisted!  We're looking forward to finding out how we've done in the final countdown this Thursday 7th April at a ceremony taking place at Northern Stage in Newcastle.

Here's a quote from Dr Anne Allen, on behalf of Barnard Castle Vision, who was kind enough to support our application with her feedback on the service we've provided to NeST in Barnard Castle. 

The Vision Delivery Team have asked me to convey our thanks for the time you have taken to support the new studios and Digital Hub at NeST. We have been impressed by the Space on Tap service (in particular the website service and your use of social media and e-newsletters) and also by your enthusiasm to understand and support the project. The help you’ve shown [the manager] – in giving her ideas about hosting coworking days and promoting the benefit of networking, laptop clinics etc has gone beyond what we expected.

As you know NeST is one of several ‘Digital City’ satellites. A £6 million new HUB for digital and creative businesses is now under construction at Redcar. Space on Tap is at the forefront of the thinking and promotion of these new ‘work hubs’ – and office services – virtual office, hotdesking, co-working, shared offices and studios. I value your guidance and references to relevant research and case studies for these flexible workspaces for microbusinesses, homeworkers and companies that permit homeshoring.

Many new and young businesses struggle to understand the benefits of working in a shared office

environment. The Colleagues on Tap days are a brilliant introduction to the benefits of co-working and the advantages of having access to a number of workplaces for people who work across the region.

We have examples already at NeST of businesses who are now working together and others that have won new contracts as a result of the hotdesking membership and workshop activities that have been promoted through Space on Tap.

We wish you every success with the venture and look forward to continuing to work with you.

Dr Anne Allen