REVEALED: Kent's top co-working spaces

Co-working is here to stay... The Post reveals the top workspaces across the county

IN DEPTH

Co-working has grown in popularity since the start of the pandemic and a number of new workspaces in Kent have emerged to tap into this trend.

Co-working has witnessed a surge in popularity in recent years due to the evolving landscape of work and business practices. Since the pandemic, the advent of remote work and flexible schedules has fueled a demand for versatile office solutions, with coworking spaces offering professionals and businesses the flexibility to choose their work environment and hours. Entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, find co-working spaces appealing due to their cost-efficiency, atmosphere, and the networking opportunities they provide.

However, these spaces are increasingly appealing to established Corporates as means to drive integration and foster collaboration. In the US, blue chip firms with WeWork memberships include Starbucks, Microsoft, and Facebook. Larger corporations are embracing coworking as a strategic option for satellite offices, enabling employees to work in various locations without the constraints of traditional office leases. These places are now more in the news than ever before as WeWork navigates life after declaring bankruptcy a month ago.

In the UK, recent research by Sketch Labs, an office search agency, discloses a 100% surge in online searches for 'coworking space' over the past five years. They estimate that by 2024, the number of people using coworking spaces will reach 5 million worldwide – a twofold increase from 2021. Many co-working spaces have popped up across Kent following a growing appetite in the UK labour market for these working environments.

The Post highlights some of the best co-working spaces across Kent and Medway.

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Lime Tree Workshop
Location: Sevenoaks
Costs: Half-day passes are available from £15 +VAT (Full day: £25+VAT)

Sisters Sandie Johnston and Cathy Emmins took over Lime Tree Work Shop in March 2021 when it was a disused and derelict warehouse. They have since transformed the building into a beautiful local work community which blends natural light, high ceilings and striking architectural features altogether to create a stunning office space for local businesses and workers. The co-founders set out on their journey to “create a local work community - without the office local politics”, and have since developed a beautiful location which combines hot desking, private offices, and gorgeous event spaces. Spread over 4,500 square feet, across two floors, the vibrant workspace is even running a wreath making session lesson later this month.

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Island Works
Location: Sheerness
Costs: Day passes start at £15 inc. VAT when booked a day in advance

IslandWorks, situated on the Isle of Sheppey within the meticulously restored Grade II listed Sheerness Dockyard Church, stands as a vibrant coworking space. Dedicated to fostering collaboration among individuals and businesses, it provides adaptable workspaces, meeting rooms, and facilities tailored for professionals, small business proprietors, and entrepreneurs. At the core of this innovative hub lies The Coffee Lounge, a warm and inviting public coffee shop accessible to all, attracting visitors from the entire island and beyond. The upstairs area offers a splendid workspace, complete with access to meeting and conference rooms, high-speed internet, and business support options through The Kent Foundation. The workspace has been carefully preserved and restored, transforming it into a dynamic community and business incubator hub.

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Regus
Location: West Malling & Kings Hill
Costs: Day passes start at £25

Stylish, modern, professional - Regus West Malling offers a luxury office space to local businesses and workers in the area. With private offices, desks, and meeting spaces all available, Regus is a modern centre set in 800 acres of landscaped parkland with an outside seating area. With over 200 companies located in the offices, 26 Kings Hill Avenue is one of the largest and most successful mixed-use developments in Europe. Regus is one of the biggest players in the office space sector in the UK but their West Malling location brings a high-quality workspace at an affordable price to businesses of all sizes and at various stages.

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Dragon Coworking
Location: Rochester
Costs: 1 day monthly passes start from £30

Dragon Coworking, situated between the historic towns of Rochester and Chatham, offers a collaborative workspace. This space caters to city professionals, freelancers, agile workers, business owners, and others, providing them with the chance to work independently and comfortably in a fully equipped environment with convenient commuting connections. Current members include podcast producers, financial advisers, accounting firms and legal services. The comfortable office aims to foster a culture of collaboration between companies using the building.

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BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF

💉 Discovery Park Ventures (DPV) has announced that it is expanding its early-stage life science fund from £1 million to £3 million. The Sandwich-based Venture Capital firm aligned to the science park is looking to capitalise on exciting investment opportunities and support its existing portfolio. DPV was formed in 2022 by Discovery Park to invest in promising, fast-growing life-science companies with close links to the innovation ecosystem at Discovery Park.

💴 Rochester financial adviser and discretionary fund manager Harbour Rock Capital appointed Keith Carby as non-executive director and chairperson, subject to regulatory approval this week. Carby has had a long career in financial services, first joining Hambro Life in 1981 and then going on to become an MD at J Rothschild Assurance. Harbour Rock Capital is a specialist financial advisory business, focusing on pensions and retirement. It has 160 staff and £600mn in pension assets.

🚆 Passengers spent more than seven hours stuck on board a Eurostar train at Folkestone with no electricity, food or working toilets last week. The firm said an overhead cable fell on the 08:16 GMT train, travelling from London to Amsterdam, at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel. In a statement, Eurostar aid: "Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, it's meant that certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before we could move the train."

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