Coworking Isn’t Just For City Centres
If you’ve found yourself researching or Google coworking spaces, chances are you’ve been inundated with adverts for spaces in London, New York, Berlin, Shanghai, and LA. Conversely to what TV suggests to us, not everyone lives in the big city.
Since 2020 and the world going on standby mode for a while, remote work has been on the rise, and quite frankly, people do not want to return to the office. This has led to the rise in coworking spaces popping up around the place to facilitate people who are too easily distracted at home but can’t stand their assigned desk neighbour at the company office.
Like I said, not everyone lives in the big city, so we are seeing a demand and increase for more rural coworking spaces in recent years.
Why Are Rural Coworking Spaces Becoming More In-Demand?
The obvious one here is more people working remotely due to the events of 2020 and COVID-19. Returning to office isn’t appealing but working from home is isolating and full of distractions. Coworking spaces offer a healthy middle ground.
In combination with this, more people are moving out of cities as they are no longer required to live where they work. Maybe you too dream of greener pastures and not alarms going off at 3am or all hours throughout the night. The population uptick in these more rural areas is creating a demand for coworking spaces that previously didn’t exist.
A smaller point, but one to consider also, people are taking ‘workations’ or seeking out destination coworking spaces wherein people travel to a new place to work. Everyone loves a change of scenery now and then.
How Can Rural Coworking Spaces Benefit People?
For those living and working in rural areas, coworking spaces can help:
• Improve mood, concentration, productivity, and satisfaction
• Help to cultivate a sense of community
• Create new networking and business opportunities
To learn more about the benefits of utilising coworking spaces, check out our blog on the topic here.
How Do Coworking Spaces Benefit Rural Communities?
Coworking spaces benefit rural communities by serving as economic development hubs.
Rural coworking spaces will often work closely with local governments to lead initiatives for their community, serving as a hub for start-up businesses and as a gathering space for other important community initiatives.
A rural coworking space is also an ideal spot to promote other local businesses and encourage workers to use local services, boosting the local economy.
In more rural settings, community ties tend to run deeper. Because of this, there’s greater chance for genuine connections among members leading to collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support.
Opportunities:
• Community Building: Coworking spaces can become central hubs for social interaction and networking.
• Economic Development: This can attract entrepreneurs and remote works, boosting the local economy.
• Local Talent Retention: Helps retain local talent by providing professional workspaces and opportunities.
• Cultural Preservation: Encourages the preservation of local culture whilst integrating modern work practices.
• Enhanced Quality of Life: Offers a work-life balance with proximity to nature and a quieter environment.
Challenges:
• Limited Infrastructure: Some rural areas may lack high-speed internet and modern facilities.
• Lower Population Density: Fewer people may mean less demand and difficulty sustaining operations.
• Access to Professional Resources and Networking Opportunities: Fewer access points to business services, training, and mentorship.
• Public Transport: Limited public transportation and long distances can be a barrier.
• Financial Viability: Profitability can be challenging with smaller memberships and lower fees.
Coworking Spaces in Telford
Dash Spaces is located in Coalport in Telford, Shropshire. Nestled in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ironbridge Gorge, Dash Spaces offers a modern coworking space surrounded by history and nature.
Discover coworking spaces from hotdesking to meeting rooms and a fully equipped podcast studio. If you’re looking for a coworking space in Telford, Dash Spaces has everything you need for a productive days work.