What classifies as 'Space on Tap'?

When we came up with the concept of Space on Tap, it was in direct response to people telling us that they needed to hire meeting space on an occasional basis, not for a month or a week, just on the day they needed it, maybe just for a few hours.  They also needed to find space that was available outside of the usual Monday to Friday 9 to 5.  Private space over a weekend or during the evening has been difficult to find, so we resort to the same hotel lobbies and cafes even though they don't really do the job.

Since we launched last year, Space on Tap's discovered literally hundreds of spaces that are available for hire across the region, from public spaces with wifi where the venue's really happy for you to drop in and use your laptop (as long as you buy a coffee!) and private places that are either free (again in exchange for the price of refreshments) or that are really affordable because you just pay for the time you need.  Some of our spaces can be hired for 90 minutes plus, and for £8.50 + vat - affordable, accessible, available on tap - that's what we're about.

We aren't leaving it there either.  We're spending time helping the venues across the region to realise that if they make their space available for shorter term bookings they'll get more business from people who choose to work from home, but who need access to external space on an occasional basis.  If that sounds like you, register free with space on tap and keep in touch with the amazing and versatile spaces we're discovering across the North East.

Space on Tap in Blyth

We've found two great spaces in the Community Enterprise Centre (CEC) in Blyth that can be hired on tap from 7.30 am through to 7 pm Monday to Friday and on Saturdays until 2 pm.  Located on Blyth's recently redeveloped Quayside both spaces have a riverside view, providing a great backdrop for meetings or a day in the office, and they are really affordable for anyone on a budget (who isn't?!).

The office/meeting room space that holds up to 5 people comfortably, and has presentation equipment available if you need it, can be hired for £10-12 per hour (depending on your needs) and is ideal for a temporary office as well as a meeting room.

We've also discovered a great meeting room that's perfect for training, networking events, away days and that's available for only £95 a day for up to 50 people depending on the layout.  It's a ground floor, really bright and well lit space, next to reception (so ideal for participants) and has bags of free parking literally outside the door.

We'd definitely recommend these spaces as worth a try. The Centre staff are really flexible and keen to please, so whatever you need just ask.

New Colleagues on Tap co-working Blog launches today

Colleagues on Tap co-working days have officially taken off!  We've now run 7 successful events since Space on Tap's launch at the end of June 2010, with another 5 days already planned by the end of May.   We've already co-worked with some amazing people across the North East region, each working freelance or from home, and all adding something to our co-working experience through sharing their knowledge, expertise and experience.

We've had great feedback on the days, the colleagues, the spaces and, it has to be said, the cupcakes!

So, to add to our co-working community we've now created a new COLLEAGUES ON TAP BLOG for all things co-working, and for those who have already attended one of our Colleagues on Tap days, or plan to soon, we have also formed a LinkedIn Group, 'Colleagues on Tap'.  This Space on Tap Blog will now focus on the amazing and versatile spaces we're discovering across the region. We are also planning to separate our Twitter accounts so we can give proper focus to the co-working information as well as keeping you in touch with all things space through our Space on Tap twitter account.  So you can now follow us on @colleaguesontap as well as @spaceontap.

Our brand new Colleagues on Tap logo!

So, all change for the better!  Oh, and of course we also have a lovely new Colleagues on Tap logo, building on our open door theme we've used in the Space on Tap branding - we hope you like the new look :)

Consider options, share ideas and gain knowledge through co-working

Pop-up office at Newcastle City Library

Another successful Colleagues on Tap co-working day took place at Newcastle City Library on 19th Jan.  Our first since the Christmas break (and snowy December!) we had a small but perfectly formed group of 7 co-workers (2 were unable to attend on the day through illness and are coming along to our next planned event instead).

Our pop up office was located on the 6th (top) floor of the library, with fabulous views across the city on what turned out to be a bright, sunny day.  The library staff were fabulously accommodating with our arrangements, and lunch in the Stewart & Co cafe was tasty.

Co-worker Angela Dawson

As well as the usual 'office banter' and chatting over lunch, we also had the opportunity to exchange ideas as a group on the subject of outsourcing, helped along brilliantly by Angela Dawson, a Virtual Assistant who runs two businesses in the North East including her virtual PA service, Dawson VA Services. 

As well as helping us to understand the mysteries of the VA and how to manage a virtual assistant effectively, the SpoT chat also allowed the group to think more generally about which aspects of their business could be effectively outsourced.  As small business owners we tend to do everything ourselves, struggling on regardless, but Angela helped us to realise that in reality this could actually be working against us (false economy?).  By passing on the management of IT, marketing, finance, admin, whatever, to someone who's dedicated to that activity day in day out, you can then more readily focus on the areas you're great at, and do more of it, rather than getting bogged down in things that not only absorb time but also make you feel pretty rubbish too!

Thought provoking stuff and an interesting discussion from which a whole range of perspectives emerged. Some of the group currently outsource quite readily, others were the beneficiaries of outsourcing decisions (marketing, IT, admin), and one co-worker's thoughts on when to outsource was directly related to their pain threshold, rather than business logic - we've all been there!

The real benefit in co-working occasionally with other small business owners is the opportunity to share thoughts on a whole range of business issues in a way that's pretty difficult to do when you work alone.  Business discussions tend to relate to your customer's business, rather than your own, and it's much more natural for these exchanges to occur during the course of a working 'day at the office' than on a planned basis. Co-working works for businesses who just need to consider options, share ideas and gain knowledge in an informal way, as they would with colleagues in a larger business, and of course a change of scene is great for everybody!

North East co-working calendar Feb to May 2011

Find out more about Colleagues on Tap co-working days here


Co-working calendar (CLICK on each venue for more info)


Wednesday 2^nd February 2011

Springboard Business Centre, Stokesley,nr MIDDLESBROUGH

Thursday 17^th February 2011

Newcastle Business Village, Benton, NORTH TYNESIDE

Tuesday 8^th March 2011

Shepherds Dene, Ridings Mill NORTHUMBERLAND

Thursday 24^th March 2011

The Morritt, Greta Bridge, TEESDALE, NR DARLINGTON

Tuesday 5^th April 2011

Quadrus Centre, Boldon        SOUTH TYNESIDE

Tuesday 10^th May 2011

Tyneside Cinema, NEWCASTLE CITY CENTRE

  

REGISTER FREE FOR ADVANCE NOTICE OF FUTURE DATES at www.spaceontap.com/register

Let's talk about co-working

A real interest in co-working has started to develop in the North East.
Space on Tap's Colleagues on Tap co-working days have proven to be a popular addition to traditional networking activity, providing the opportunity for people who usually work from home, or in a small team, to work alongside new colleagues for the day in 'pop-up' offices set up in a whole host of locations across the region.  It has to be said that the Northern part of the region has seen greater take-up so far, although we have now started to receive some interest from business people in the Tees Valley and Durham areas too, and our Spring 2011 programme spans the region from Ridings Mill in Northumberland to Stokesley in Tees Valley/North Yorks.  More details here.

So, let's talk about co-working.  If you want to know more about co-working just ask in the comments section below or email us at enquiries@spaceontap.com

We'd also love to gather your COMMENTS / IDEAS / THOUGHTS about co-working.  Here are a few questions to start you off:

- What's most important in co-working - the space or the people?


- What are the 3 features a co-working space would need to have to make you want to go there?


- What would you prefer, a 'co-working event' or a 'co-working space'?


- Would you be interested in joining a co-working network?


- What's better for personal and/or business development - co-working or networking?


- Is co-working for people who work alone, or could larger organisations benefit from it too?

Thanks for contributing :)
Jayne

FACT: Co-working is good for business

FACT:  Co-working is good for business. 

Through Space on Tap's co-working days (Colleagues on Tap) which are held regularly across the North East of England, we help people who work from home, or that usually work alone, to connect with other home-based businesses.  Even during the course of one day it's amazing how quickly a mutually supportive co-working community starts to exist.

Co-workers at a Colleagues on Tap coworking day

We've witnessed new associations being formed between quite diverse businesses, business deals being struck and informal mentoring and coaching starting to emerge.  Through the exchange of ideas and knowledge and some real camaraderie (and, in our case we also add delicious cupcakes into the mix!) business people develop themselves and their businesses through co-working in a pop-up office for the day.

Working alone is great, most of the time, but we all need people around us sometimes to stimulate fresh thinking and help us to remember how capable we are!

Those cupcakes ...

Book your place at a Colleagues on Tap co-working day today.  We have events planned in Darlington/South Durham, Newcastle, Stokesley, North Tyneside and Northumberland, so there really is something for everyone!

CLICK HERE for more details, or for the 'insider view' get in touch with Jayne or Joanne at enquiries@spaceontap.com

For more views on how co-working's good for business check out this post from the Global Co-working Blog